Avdija Scores 34, Portland Beats Sacramento 120-107

Deni Avdija scored a season-high 34 points on 11-of-13 shooting, with six rebounds and four assists, as Portland beat Sacramento 120-107 in an NBA Cup game for its third straight win and a 9-3 record. Damian Lillard added 29 points, while Sacramento fell to 1-11 after its fifth consecutive loss. Avdija had also led Portland in back-to-back wins over Oklahoma City, including a 28-point, six-assist performance with four steals and two blocks; the Thunder’s lack of creators beyond Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was exposed in both losses. Avdija is averaging around 22 points and six assists, and has emerged as a candidate for his first All-NBA selection as Portland leans on his scoring and playmaking amid injuries and a reshaped lineup.