Deni Avdija and Portland Struggle with Turnovers Ahead of Thunder Series
Portland Trail Blazers face Oklahoma City Thunder amid rising turnover issues. Deni Avdija and the team struggle with ball security following injuries to key roster players.
The Portland Trail Blazers continue their tough stretch of games by hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder for a back-to-back series scheduled at times convenient for Israeli fans. The Trail Blazers enter the matchups following consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, which once again highlighted a persistent issue regarding Deni Avdija's ball security.
Last season, Portland ranked among the worst teams in the NBA in taking care of the basketball, with Avdija leading the league alongside Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic in turnovers per game. Following the injury to Ja Morant, who will be sidelined for the coming weeks, the Blazers have relapsed into their turnover-prone ways.
Before the injury of the former All-Star acquired via trade in the offseason, the team averaged 14.3 turnovers per game, ranking fourth-best in the NBA. Since the injury, the Blazers are averaging 19 turnovers per game, an increase of 4.7 per contest and the worst mark in the league.
Avdija, who committed 8 turnovers in the NBA Cup loss to the Lakers, handles the ball more frequently in the absence of Morant and Shaedon Sharpe, leading to a higher turnover count. Head coach Micah Nori held an extended video session ahead of the upcoming series against the Thunder, followed by a favorable matchup on paper against the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Cup.
Remembering Past Encounters
Both the Blazers and the Thunder will head into their upcoming meetings with significant roster absences, echoing their first encounter last season. A year ago, the Thunder arrived at the Moda Center missing three starters: Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Luguentz Dort. On the other side, Portland played without Scoot Henderson, while Damian Lillard and Matisse Thybulle were also unavailable.
The game began with a dominant display by the champions, who raced to a 41-21 lead by the end of the first quarter. Portland slowly chipped away at the deficit, turning the fourth quarter into a tightly contested affair. Avdija, who shot 1-for-12 from the field through the first 36 minutes, stepped up with 11 points in the decisive period, including crucial baskets that sealed the victory and handed the Thunder their first loss of the season.
