Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija returned Monday night at Golden State after missing two games with a left quad contusion and had his second-most impressive game with the team.
Avdija’s 34 points and 16 rebounds during a 130-120 loss to the Warriors were both season-highs. He shot 11 of 15 from the field, 5 of 7 from three-point range and handed out six assists. The only downside was that he committed six turnovers.
Avdija, a game-time decision, played 40 minutes and 36 seconds, his fifth-most this season.
“He got out there and laid it on the line for us,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters at the Chase Center. “I probably overplayed him, but we needed everything that he had. He gave us every ounce of everything that he had tonight. He always does.”
Avdija’s 16 rebounds helped the Blazers outrebound the Warriors 43-40.
“Him on the glass was a huge deal,” Billups said. “We win the glass tonight against this team. Not many times we win the glass and have over 30 assists and lose the game. It takes a special performance, and they had one to beat us.”
Avdija has been ultra-productive on nights he returns from this injury.
Avdija first injured his quad on Feb. 26 at Washington in the first quarter of a win over his former team. He missed the next game, a win at Brooklyn, then returned March 2 at Cleveland.
In the overtime loss, Avdija produced his first career triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
He reinjured the quad Wednesday at Boston.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)