POR 114, PHX 110: Avdija Dominates With 68.4 Yahoo FP
Marcus Thompson Jr.
Fire Lieutenant ยท Golden State Warriors fan
Deni Avdija Goes Nuclear, Trail Blazers Steal One in Phoenix
That's the kind of game that makes you check your phone three times to make sure the box score isn't a typo. Deni Avdija just put on a performance that had me sitting on my couch yelling at the TV like it was a playoff game, and I'm not even a Blazers guy. Portland walks out of Phoenix with a 114-110 win, but the real story here is what Avdija did to get them there.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deni Avdija | 76.0 | 68.4 | 41/7/12 | 24.2/6.9/6.7 | +16.8 |
| Dillon Brooks | 49.0 | 42.4 | 20/7/2 | 20.2/3.6/1.8 | -0.2 |
| Jalen Green | 38.0 | 42.0 | 35/5/2 | 17.8/3.6/2.8 | +17.2 |
| Donovan Clingan | 33.0 | 33.2 | 2/11/4 | 12.1/11.6/2.1 | -10.1 |
| Royce O'Neale | 39.0 | 33.1 | 7/8/3 | 9.8/4.8/2.7 | -2.8 |
| Devin Booker | 23.0 | 30.2 | 22/1/4 | 26.1/3.9/6.0 | -4.1 |
| Jrue Holiday | 22.0 | 26.3 | 21/4/3 | 16.3/4.6/6.1 | +4.7 |
| Toumani Camara | 25.0 | 23.8 | 8/4/0 | 13.4/5.1/2.5 | -5.4 |
| Scoot Henderson | 25.0 | 22.6 | 9/3/2 | 14.2/2.7/3.7 | -5.2 |
| Mark Williams | 25.0 | 20.8 | 4/4/2 | 11.7/8.0/1.0 | -7.7 |
The Avdija Explosion
Deni Avdija dropped 41 points on 15-22 shooting with 7 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 blocks. Sixty-eight Yahoo fantasy points. Let me say that again for the people in the back: 68 fantasy points. That's a top-5 all-time single-game performance in most leagues.
What makes this different from a random 40-point game is the efficiency and the completeness. This wasn't volume scoring on bad shooting. He was 68% from the field, 62% from three, and 62% from the line. The assist total is what gets me though. Twelve dimes means he wasn't just taking over, he was running the offense and keeping teammates involved. This is Penny Hardaway territory in terms of skill set, a guy who can put up buckets but won't sell out his teammates to do it.
The question nobody wants to ask yet but we all need to: is this real or a one-game spike? Avdija's been solid all year (24.2 PPG, 6.7 APG season average), but tonight he exceeded his scoring average by nearly 17 points. That's not normal even for All-NBA caliber guys. If you own him, don't panic sell on a game like this. But also don't convince yourself he's dropping 40 every night. This was a perfect storm, a guy in rhythm against a defense that had no answers.
The Jalen Green Breakout
Okay, Jalen Green went for 35 points on 14-29 shooting. That's +17.2 against his season average, and yeah, he's owned in 42.7% of leagues, so the waiver wire isn't going to help you here. But this matters for his managers. Green's been inconsistent all year (17.8 PPG), and nights like this remind you why you drafted him. When he gets hot, he's a legitimate 30-plus guy. The efficiency was respectable considering the volume, and he stayed involved despite the Suns' other guys struggling.
The problem is you can't count on this. Green's a young player finding his way, and you're going to have 15-point nights right next to 35-point nights. Just hold tight and let him cook.
Devin Booker's Quiet Night
Here's what concerns me about Devin Booker (22 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists on 7-17 shooting): the Trail Blazers' perimeter defense was suffocating, and Booker had no answers for it. He's the reigning All-NBA guy, and he got held to below his 26.1 PPG average. That's the kind of matchup you want to remember. Portland's got something defensively that works against Phoenix's main scoring threat.
For Booker owners, this is a "don't panic" moment, but also a "watch the matchups" moment. He's going to have nights where teams throw everything at him. When they do, he's not going to put up monster numbers. That's just basketball.
Clingan's Weird Game
Donovan Clingan is one of the most frustrating fantasy assets right now, and tonight proved why. Two points on 1-6 shooting, but 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. The blocks and rebounds kept him at 33 fantasy points, but that shooting line is ugly for a guy who's supposed to be a scoring threat. He's 28 minutes and getting good run, so the volume is there. The skill just isn't translating some nights.
If you're thinking about moving him, hold for now. Centers who can board and block have value, even when they can't hit water from a boat.
The Waiver Wire Noise
Grayson Allen got DNP for Phoenix, which is wild because he's averaging 16.5 PPG this season. That's a minutes/rotation question mark worth watching. He got added 0.6% in leagues, so nobody's panicking yet, but if he's losing his spot in that rotation, you need to know it early.
On the other side, Royce O'Neale is still out there available in a lot of leagues (55.3% owned), pulled down 8 rebounds, and played strong defense (4 steals). He's a 3-and-D guy who doesn't excite anyone, but he's also not expensive to grab and can contribute in the playoffs.
The Bottom Line
Portland won an ugly game in a place where the Suns are supposed to dominate. Deni Avdija had a historic night. Jalen Green reminded everyone he's got All-Star potential. Devin Booker got stone-walled. That's the story.
If you own Avdija, you're riding high. If you own Booker, you're not worried yet. If you don't own either, you're probably regretting something about your draft class.