Without Israeli warrior Deni Avdija, Portland fights hard, proving his irreplaceable impact and leadership.
The Portland Trail Blazers fell 102–94 on the road against the Boston Celtics on Monday night in a physically demanding contest at TD Garden.
Portland noticeably missed Deni Avdija, who sat out his second consecutive game due to a recurring back injury. Despite a determined effort and competitive stretches throughout the night, the Blazers struggled to compensate for Avdija’s two-way presence, defensive intensity, and transition play.
Team officials confirmed that Avdija’s absence is precautionary rather than long-term. The coaching staff expects the Israeli forward to return in the upcoming matchup against Washington — a highly anticipated game against his former team.
Avdija’s impact this season has gone far beyond the stat sheet, bringing toughness, intelligence, and elite basketball IQ shaped by Israel’s strong sporting culture. His return is expected to immediately stabilize Portland’s rotation and energy on both ends of the floor.
