Deni Avdija’s triple-double helps Blazers down short-handed Spurs

Deni Avdija amassed a 29-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included a key 3-pointer in the final minute to help the visiting Portland Trail Blazers hold on for a 115-110 win over the short-handed San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Both teams were playing the second game of a back-to-back, but it was Portland that responded the best.

The Trail Blazers led by four points at halftime and by seven after three periods behind Donovan Clingan and Avdija. Portland quickly expanded its advantage to 93-80 a minute and a half into the fourth quarter, but the Spurs were far from finished.

San Antonio drew to within 105-103 on Luke Kornet's dunk with 3:14 to play. Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara hit 3-pointers on the Trail Blazers' next two possessions before a Stephon Castle dunk off a De'Aaron Fox steal closed the gap to 111-110 with 1:36 left.

Avdija responded with another 3-pointer to make it a four-point game, but Caleb Love missed a pair of free throws with 21.7 seconds to play, leaving the door open just slightly for San Antonio. The Spurs could not take advantage and had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Clingan finished with a career-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds, while Camara scored 20 points. Love had 16 off the bench, and Portland won for the second consecutive game and for the fourth time in its past five contests.

Kornet led the Spurs with 23 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Julian Champagnie added 20 points and 10 rebounds, Fox hit for 19 points and Castle ended up with 16 points and nine assists. The Spurs played without star center Victor Wembanyama (left knee injury) for the second straight game and for the third contest in a row without starting guard Devin Vassell (adductor strain).

Portland took charge from the jump, building a 35-24 lead after 12 minutes of play.

The Trail Blazers quickly boosted their lead to 15 points, but Castle's layup with 4:24 to play before halftime helped trim the San Antonio deficit to 46-45. The Trail Blazers led 55-51 at the break.

Clingan led the Trail Blazers with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting before halftime, while Avdija added 14. Champagnie paced San Antonio with 15 points, and Kornet made all five of his shots from the floor to rack up 10 points in the first half.

--Field Level Media