Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija: Shows some rust in return
Avdija (back) amassed 18 points (6-16 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), eight assists, five rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes during Sunday's 131-111 win over the Pacers.
Avdija exhibited some rust in his first appearance since Feb. 22 following a seven-game absence due to a lower back injury management. While playing eight fewer minutes than his season-long average, Avdija struggled to find his shooting touch. In any case, having Avdija back on the court should be considered a win for the Trail Blazers, as he's made just three appearances since the All-Star break due to persistent back problems. Avdija is averaging just 14.0 points while shooting 39.3 percent from the floor since the beginning of February, so the recurring back problems would seem to be a factor in his offensive downturn.
