Deni Avdija, the Israeli basketball power forward, recorded his third NBA career triple double in the Portland Trail Blazers’ narrow loss 122-121 to Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Avdija registered 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists as he rallied the Blazers in the fourth quarter from a 21-point deficit to a two-point lead in the last seconds of the game.
The Bulls, however, clutched their way to victory with Nikola Vucevic’s three-pointer at the buzzer.
Avdija also registered two steals, one block and three turnovers in his 37 minutes on the court.
Portland is going through a rough patch, losing four games on the bounce and six from their last seven. The Trail Blazers are currently ridden with injuries, without key players such as Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams and Jrue Holiday—including other players unavailable due to long-term injuries.
On Nov. 5, Avdija led his team to a 121-119 win over Oklahoma City Thunder, handing the defending NBA champions their first loss of the season.
He was close to delivering his third career triple double in that game, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Avdija was drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2020, and joined the Trail Blazers in 2024. Before moving to the NBA, the power forward, nicknamed “Turbo,” played for Maccabi Tel Aviv for four years.
