By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite losing All-Star forward Deni Avdija to a recurring lower back injury just moments after tip-off, the Portland Trail Blazers secured a gritty 92–77 road victory over the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Avdija, who had been listed as questionable leading up to Sunday’s contest due to ongoing back issues, started the game but was forced to exit in the first minute before recording a single statistic. The 25-year-old’s availability has been a persistent concern for Portland over the last several weeks, and his early departure cast an immediate shadow over the matchup.
“He felt good before the game, but his back flared up again, and we lost him,” said interim head coach Tiago Splitter during the postgame press conference. “It’s not easy. While the team figured it out offensively, I thought everyone stepped up defensively to do an amazing job.”
Splitter, 41, remained cautious regarding the Israeli forward’s immediate future, hinting at a potential stint on the sidelines. “I’m not a doctor, but we’re going to dive deep and see what’s really happening there,” he added.
Belgian Toumani Camara anchored the starting lineup with a double-double, tallying 12 points and 10 rebounds, helping his side improve to 28-30 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, and reduce the hosts to 33-25. The bench also featured European contributions, with French Sidy Cissoko contributing two steals and Czech Vit Krejci recording two blocks.
Returning to Portland’s Moda Center, the Blazers resume action against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.