Trail Blazers Beat Warriors as Avdija Leads Big NBA Cup Win

The Portland Trail Blazers earned an impressive 127-123 win over the Golden State Warriors in an exciting NBA Cup matchup on Friday night. The star of the game was Deni Avdija, who delivered one of the best performances of his career. He scored 26 points, handed out a career-high 14 assists, and grabbed six rebounds to guide Portland to a hard-fought victory on the road.

Avdija did not shoot extremely well from the field, making only six of his 14 attempts, but he showed great confidence at the free-throw line. He made 12 of his 13 free throws, including two crucial shots with just 9.8 seconds left. Those final free throws helped the Trail Blazers secure their first road win against the Warriors since January 1, 2021. His playmaking and steady scoring made him one of the key players throughout the night.

Portland also received strong support from the rest of the team. Donovan Clingan recorded a career-high 22 points along with 10 rebounds, earning a valuable double-double. Caleb Love added 26 points with consistent shooting, while Toumani Camara contributed 20 important points. Sidy Cissoko also played well off the bench, scoring 15 points to keep Portland’s offense running smoothly. These contributions helped the Trail Blazers stay in control for most of the second half.

Golden State, however, did not make things easy. Stephen Curry had another explosive performance, scoring 38 points and making nine 3-pointers. His long-range shooting kept the Warriors competitive until the final minute. Two of his three-pointers in the closing moments gave Golden State hope, but Portland held their ground. Curry’s hot shooting included a stretch in the second quarter where he went 6-for-6 and made five 3-pointers, helping the Warriors take a 72-65 halftime lead after a huge 44-point quarter.

Despite the Warriors’ strong second quarter, Portland regained control in the third and stayed ahead in the fourth. With 4:08 left, Golden State trailed 115-111 and had a chance to get closer, but an offensive foul called on Butler stopped their momentum. Warriors coach Steve Kerr challenged the call, but the referees confirmed it after review. That moment proved costly as Portland maintained their lead and closed out the game.

Brandin Podziemski and Butler each scored 20 points, adding valuable support for Golden State. Draymond Green also contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, but the Warriors still suffered their third straight loss. Their defense and late-game execution were not strong enough to match Portland’s balanced attack.

The Trail Blazers improved to 2-1 in NBA Cup play, giving them a good chance to advance further in the tournament. The Warriors, meanwhile, fell to 1-2, putting pressure on them to win their upcoming games if they hope to stay in the competition.

Before the game, Golden State celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1975 championship, with several legendary players attending the event, including Hall of Famer Rick Barry. The celebration energized the crowd, but their support wasn’t enough to push the Warriors to victory.

Portland started the game fast thanks to Camara and Clingan, who together scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the opening quarter. However, the Warriors responded strongly in the second quarter, led by Curry’s brilliant shooting performance.

In the end, Portland’s teamwork, strong free-throw shooting, and Avdija’s all-around play made the difference. With confidence growing and young players stepping up, the Trail Blazers continue to show improvement in the NBA Cup.