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The Portland Trail Blazers tied their Western Conference first-round series at 1-1 after a 106-103 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center. Deni Avdija reflected on the performance of Scoot Henderson, who scored 31 points in the comeback victory.
Avdija opened by evaluating Henderson’s development over two seasons in Portland. “His growth has been amazing. I feel like Scoot is a very hardworking guy, very humble, always wants the best for his teammates,” he said.
He added context to Henderson’s impact in the game flow. “It’s just fun seeing him play free, fun seeing him being aggressive, breaking the paint. He was phenomenal tonight. He got us back in the game,” Avdija said.
Defensive energy also stood out in Avdija’s assessment. “He did some big plays. He was early on defensively. So big shout out to Scoot. This is a big game for him,” he said.
Avdija pointed to what he had observed since joining Portland. “I definitely seen that. I’ve seen him when I came here. I saw the potential. I see how relentless he is going downhill,” he said.
He linked that mindset to team success. “He’s hardworking. He’s always positive. He’s always trying to make the right play. He’s a winning player,” Avdija said.
On Henderson’s injury-hit season, Avdija emphasized patience and development. “I know it’s tough being injured most of the year and coming back and trying to find your way, trying to find your minutes, but you’re sticking with it,” he said.
Avdija also compared timelines for young players adjusting in the league. “Well, it took me longer than what it took him. I feel like he figured it out pretty good,” he said.
San Antonio’s loss of Victor Wembanyama shifted the game’s dynamics, and Avdija addressed it directly. “I feel like Victor is a good player, but I’ll be honest, I think we did a good job on him in the beginning,” he said.
He credited Portland’s defensive structure for controlling the tempo early. “We’re going to keep being aggressive whether it’s with him or without him on the floor. We’re going to keep being physical,” Avdija said.
Looking at the series situation, Avdija kept the focus on balance. “It’s only 1-1. I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” he said.
He also praised head coach Tiago Splitter’s leadership through the season. “He’s done phenomenal things. He’s getting the best out of everybody. We love playing for him,” Avdija said.
Veteran presence helped Portland close out the win after a late Spurs collapse. “I think ourselves. We have good veterans. Jrue, Jerami, Matisse, Rob, they’re very composed,” Avdija said.
The series now shifts to Portland for Game 3, with both teams tied and momentum balanced.
