Deni Avdija Scores 23 Points as Portland Edges Golden State in Preseason
Deni Avdija scored 23 points to lead Portland over Golden State in NBA preseason action, while Tyrese Haliburton made his long-awaited return for Indiana.
The NBA preseason is heating up as Portland defeated Golden State 123-118 in their opening exhibition game at the Moda Center. Deni Avdija led the Trail Blazers with 23 points in three quarters of action, shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc in 21 minutes.
Avdija added two rebounds and two assists while committing two turnovers. Meanwhile, Golden State played without several key figures, including Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Myles Kelly paced the Warriors with 24 points in the narrow loss.
In other preseason action, Tyrese Haliburton returned to the floor after a 16-month absence, helping Indiana secure a 123-112 victory over Minnesota. Haliburton tallied seven points and six assists in 16 minutes of play.
Milwaukee also staged a dramatic second-half comeback to edge Oklahoma City 128-126. Myles Turner paced the Bucks with 19 points, overcoming a strong performance from Thunder rookie Adaye Mara.
