Deni Avdija shines with 41 points against the Rockets in a thrilling victory
The Portland Trail Blazers snatched a spectacular victory against the Houston Rockets (103-102) in a game decided by a tenth of a second. At the heart of this success, Deni Avdija delivered his season’s best performance with 41 points, dominating throughout against a defense renowned as one of the best in the NBA.
A top-tier duel between Avdija and Durant
The Israeli forward won his matchup against Kevin Durant in a high-level showdown. While « KD » finished with 37 points on 14/26 shooting, Avdija responded with 41 points on 13/24 shooting and a remarkable 13/15 from the free-throw line. The former Real Madrid player particularly shined with his aggressiveness attacking the rim, stringing together layups and drawing numerous fouls.
The key moment came in the final minute, when Avdija scored a crucial and-1 against Kevin Durant, giving the Blazers a two-possession lead. This basket proved decisive in countering the Rockets’ comeback, who spent the entire second half chasing the score.
A breathtaking finish that falls short
The final seconds offered a thriller-worthy scenario. After two free throws by Durant bringing Houston within one point, Shaedon Sharpe (20 points, 3 assists) missed his inbound pass. Kevin Durant then attempted a mid-range shot against Avdija and Rayan Rupert, but his attempt fell short.
Tari Eason grabbed the offensive rebound and put the ball back in the basket, but the referees waved off the basket after video review. The Rockets player still had the ball in his hands when the buzzer sounded, denying Houston a victory that seemed secured.
This fourth consecutive victory allows the Blazers to close in on the Western Conference Top 8 and consolidate their position in the play-in race. Averaging over 26 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists this season, Deni Avdija confirms his rise to prominence and now establishes himself as a serious candidate for the All-Star Game. The Portland forward has clearly reached a new level and is among the NBA’s hottest players right now.
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