<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-rumors-portland-changes-tune-on-robert-williams-iii-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers rumors: Portland changes tune on Robert Williams III trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blazers-center-Robert-Williams-III-35-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>© Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers rumors: Portland changes tune on Robert Williams III trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-26T20:28:41-08:00">November 26th, 8:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-26T20:28:41-08:00">November 26th, 8:28pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-perfect-move-in-2025-nba-offseason">Portland Trail Blazers set out to contend</a> for the 2025-26 season, as evidenced <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/exclusive-jrue-holiday-reveals-damian-lillard-helping-blazers-season-long-injury-absence">by their trade for Jrue Holiday</a>, a win-now move for a veteran guard. They currently have an 8-10 record at the time of writing, which has them in ninth place in the Western Conference. That is good enough for a play-in tournament spot in the meantime, and the Blazers will be looking forward to improved play once they get back key pieces from injury.</p><p>But the Blazers have some depth issues to deal with if they were to contend in the loaded West. They at least have some pieces to try and trade away if they were to pursue some depth upgrades. One of those pieces who could end up being on the trade block is Robert Williams III, the oft-injured big man who’s in the final year of his contract.</p><p>With Williams being an expiring deal, the Blazers reportedly have <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/talking-zone-defense-nba-big-men?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=179996162&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">shown more willingness</a> to trade him away, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer. This is in contrast to the Blazers’ stance last year where they were holding out for a huge return in any potential Williams trade.</p><p>It is quite odd that a team with depth issues would want to trade away a rotation piece like Williams. The Blazers do have other centers, such as Duop Reath and 2025 first-round pick Yang Hansen, on the roster to back up Donovan Clingan, but WIlliams is cementing himself as a key cog for interim head coach Tiago Splitter’s squad.</p><p>There should remain plenty of interest in Williams as a rim-running, rim-protecting big who won’t require a long-term commitment on any team’s books.</p><h2><b>Robert Williams III’s Blazers tenure may be coming to an end</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Blazers-Robert-Williams-III-1.jpg"><figcaption>Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Blazers acquired Williams as part of the trade that sent Holiday to the Boston Celtics back in 2023. Since then, Williams has only suited up in 38 games in a Blazers uniform, which is a bit of a concern for any team looking to trade for him in the past.</p><p>But now, Williams is in the final year of his contract making $13.3 million. Alas, while teams will inevitably be registering interest in him, it’s hard to pinpoint which contender could use his services at the moment.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers rumors: Portland changes tune on Robert Williams III trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-damian-lillard-life-changing-experience-big-move-off-court');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Damian Lillard shares ‘life-changing experience’ amid big move off the court');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Damian-Lillard-shares-life-changing-experience-amid-big-move-off-the-court.jpg"><figcaption>Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Damian Lillard shares ‘life-changing experience’ amid big move off the court</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-25T20:46:14-08:00">November 25th, 8:46pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-25T20:46:14-08:00">November 25th, 8:46pm</time><address><a>Paolo Mariano</a>Paolo Mariano is a freelance writer, editor, and producer based in Manila, Philippines. He is a journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas and the father of a young girl whose personality swings from Simone Biles to Dillon Brooks. A beacon of objectivity, he believes Penny Hardaway is the true NBA GOAT.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard may be sidelined due to an Achilles injury, but he has made sure to remain productive, especially when it comes to making an impact in the community.</p><p>In February, he launched the Damian Lillard Scholars Program to help high school students in the Bay Area get into Portland State University. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/athletics/athletics-news-damian-lillard-celebrities-leaving-oakland">Lillard grew up in Oakland</a> and has always given back to his hometown.</p><p>It was only appropriate that <a href="https://www.kptv.com/2025/11/25/trail-blazers-star-damian-lillard-creates-pathway-portland-state-oakland-area-students/" rel="noopener">the first recipient</a> of Lillard’s charity, Kayla Sisavat, is from Oakland as well, according to a report from KPTV’s Anna Katayama. Sisavat will receive $25,000 annually for her four-year college education.</p><p>The 35-year-old Lillard, who grew up in a rough neighborhood, <a href="https://x.com/Dame_Lillard/status/1993511141071597908" rel="noopener">acknowledged the mark</a> he can leave on society, drawing from his own experience.</p><p>“Earning a scholarship to attend college out of state was a life-changing experience for me. I’m honored to be able to help deserving students from my hometown have similar experiences,” wrote the nine-time All-Star on X.</p><p>Lillard wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. He earned a scholarship at Weber State, where he blossomed into a star. He eventually grabbed the attention of the NBA and was drafted by the Trail Blazers as the sixth overall pick in 2012.</p><p>While he left college early, he returned to Weber State for several summers to take up classes. In 2015, he completed his bachelor’s degree in professional sales and even joined the commencement exercises.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-cj-mccollum-perfect-reaction-damian-lillard-portland-reunion">Lillard’s return to Rip City in the offseason</a> was warmly welcomed by fans. He will forever be a legend in Portland—even more so with his continued philanthropy. Truly, Dame Time is undefeated.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Damian Lillard shares ‘life-changing experience’ amid big move off the court

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-imagine-deni-avdija-nfl-portland-announcers-yuk-broadcast');   ga('set', 'title', 'Could you imagine Deni Avdija in NFL? Blazers announcers yuk it up on broadcast');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Avdija.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Could you imagine Deni Avdija in NFL? Blazers announcers yuk it up on broadcast</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-25T07:51:25-08:00">November 25th, 7:51am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-25T07:51:25-08:00">November 25th, 7:51am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Could you imagine Deni Avdija in NFL? Blazers announcers yuk it up on broadcast

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/exclusive-jrue-holiday-reveals-damian-lillard-helping-blazers-season-long-injury-absence');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: Jrue Holiday reveals how Damian Lillard is helping Blazers despite season-long injury absence');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jrue-Holiday-reveals-how-Damian-Lillard-is-helping-Blazers-despite-season-long-injury-abesnce.jpg"></figure><h1>Exclusive: Jrue Holiday reveals how Damian Lillard is helping Blazers despite season-long injury absence</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-24T12:30:47-08:00">November 24th, 12:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-24T12:30:47-08:00">November 24th, 12:30pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-shaedon-sharpe-jerami-grant-injury-updates-nba-cup-game-warriors">list of injures that’s plagued the Portland Blazers</a> — headlined by Damian Lillard’s season-long recovery — veteran Jrue Holiday sees a team on a path toward success. Following a 122-95 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team the Blazers beat on November 5, handing the defending champion its only loss of the season, Holiday revealed the luxury of having Lillard on his team.</p><p>For Jrue, it’s led to in-depth conversations, as Lillard, although inactive, still makes his presence felt, which, Holiday says, resonates throughout the team.</p><p>“We played in the Olympics together. I used to be with Adidas. So, we’ve done some stuff together with that,” Holiday tells ClutchPoints. “So, I’ve known him for a long time. Just his knowlege of the game, experiences that he’s been through, even what he’s passing onto me and the rest of the team as we’re playing even though he’s sidelined, has been invaluable.”</p><p>Amid Lillard’s season-long recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, Holiday and the Blazers’ win against the Thunder in early November, topped a 5-3 start to the regular season. Deni Avdija is leading the team in scoring with 25.1 points per game, Shaedon Sharpe (22.6 points per game) isn’t far behind, and Toumani Camara is building off his All-Defensive Team campaign last season.</p><p>“I think we’re having a great season,” Holiday said. “For just intentions and how we are as a team, and our characteristics has been great. So, if we can stay healthy and get healthy, we’ll be even better.”</p><p>Holiday, who was sidelined with a calf injury for Sunday’s game, will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. Blazers’ Scoot Henderson, dealing with a hamstring injury, is expected to miss the next month, and Matisse Thybulle underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb. He will miss the next four to six weeks.</p><h2><b>Jrue Holiday reveals eye-opening text from Blazers’ Damian Lillard</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blazers-guard-Damian-Lillard.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Blazers veterans <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-reveals-eye-opening-damian-lillard-text-rejoining-portland">Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard kept in touch</a> via text throughout the summer before the 2025-26 season. Excited for a new chapter to their respective careers, Holiday says Lillard <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/jrue-holiday-on-desire-win-blazers-discussions-damian-lillard" rel="noopener">reached out to him</a> after Damian inked a new deal to return to the franchise he spent the first 11 years of his career playing for, per RG.com’s DJ Siddiqi.</p><p>“When he first re-signed with the team, [he] texting me, ‘Man, we really got a chance to be good,’” Holiday said.</p><p>While this past summer wasn’t the first time Holiday was traded to the Blazers, he was looking forward to his new tenure weeks before the regular season.</p><p>“I feel like winning and competing and showing these guys that have so much talent,” Holiday added. “I don’t think y’all understand like Scoot and Shaedon are so athletic and so smart the way that they play the game. They’re going to be so good, and I feel like all they need is time. I feel like the time is now, because they have all the tools. I’m super excited to play with them.”</p><p>The Blazers will face the Bucks on Monday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: Jrue Holiday reveals how Damian Lillard is helping Blazers despite season-long injury absence

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-pleads-not-guilty-charges-stemming-poker-scandal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges stemming from gambling scandal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blazers-HC-Chauncey-Billups-during-a-January-2025-game-vs.-Clippers.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges stemming from gambling scandal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-24T09:44:23-08:00">November 24th, 9:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-24T09:47:19-08:00">November 24th, 9:47am</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1992991091486822591" rel="noopener">pleaded not guilty</a> to charges of wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy at a Brooklyn federal courthouse on Monday morning. This course of action was anticipated, as the 2024 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and 2004 NBA Finals MVP has maintained his innocence since being arrested on Oct. 23 for his <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/what-we-know-about-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups-fbi-investigations">alleged involvement in rigged poker games</a>.</p><p>Prosecutors say that Billups and other athletes used their fame to help the mafia lure unsuspecting victims to high-stakes games that included X-ray card tables and altered shuffling machines. Billups and Damon Jones, who pleaded not guilty to the same charges in addition to being indicted a related sports gambling case, are accused of knowingly aiding crime families in defrauding people for at least $7 million. The illegal scheme is said to date back to 2019.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-basically-already-been-fired-without-being-fired">The Blazers put Billups on leave</a> following his arrest, with 2014 NBA champ Tiago Splitter serving as interim head coach for the time being. If convicted, the 49-year-old could face a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors will be tasked with proving that he deliberately played the part of “the face card” and was aware that the mafia cheated victims out of money via technology.</p><p>There are 31 total people who have been charged in the case. A lengthy legal battle could ensue, but Chauncey Billups and his attorneys appear confident in their defense.</p><p>The retired guard helped the Detroit Pistons earn what is considered one of the most improbable championship victories in NBA history. ClutchPoints will keep you apprised of all future developments regarding the charges that Billups is facing.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges stemming from gambling scandal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-chauncey-billups-plead-not-guilty-sports-betting-charges');   ga('set', 'title', 'Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups to plead not guilty to sports betting charges');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chauncey-Billups.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups to plead not guilty to sports betting charges</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-21T13:30:40-08:00">November 21st, 1:30pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-21T13:30:40-08:00">November 21st, 1:30pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups-placed-on-immediate-leave-by-league">Trail Blazers have been without their head coach</a>, Chauncey Billups, for most of the season after he was arrested on sports betting charges. The latest news pertaining to Billups is that he <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1991963381440602203" rel="noopener">plans to plead not guilty</a> to the charges, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.</p><p>“A source told me that Chauncey Billups will plead not guilty to the illegal sports betting charges,” Charania said on NBA Today. “The FBI has two charges against Billups. One is a count of wire fraud, and the other is money laundering. Each count carries no more than 20 years in prison. This is a routine arraignment where they’re going to redo your charges. There’s going to be a not guilty plea by Chauncey Billups. This will be a long, drawn out process… This will go 6 to 12 months, at least.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chauncey Billups will plead not guilty to the illegal sports betting charges, per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShamsCharania</a>.</p><p>"This will be a long, drawn out process… This will go 6 to 12 months, at least."<a href="https://t.co/osprX2SSUN">pic.twitter.com/osprX2SSUN</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1991963381440602203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Billups was indicted for his alleged participation in a wide-ranging, years-long scheme to defraud card players in poker games in 2019 when he wasn’t a coach or a player.</p><p>During the same time as Billups’ arrest, Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and Damon Jones were arrested as well. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-terry-rozier-arrested-fbi-gambling-probe">Rozier was arrested and charged</a> with allegedly taking himself out of a game on purpose in 2023 so a co-conspirator could place a bet and win.</p><p>Jones was charged with using his relationship with Los Angeles Lakers players to place bets. Jones found out in 2023 that LeBron James was not playing against the Milwaukee Bucks, and he told an unnamed co-conspirator to place a bet. Jones did the same thing in 2024 when he learned from a trainer that a Lakers player was hurt and his minutes would be restricted.</p><p>As for Billups, it’s hard to see him returning to the Trail Blazers this season, and there’s a good chance his coaching career could be in jeopardy if he’s found guilty on the charges.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups to plead not guilty to sports betting charges

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-shaedon-sharpe-jerami-grant-injury-updates-nba-cup-game-warriors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant injury updates for NBA Cup game vs. Warriors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blazers-news-Jrue-Holiday-Shaedon-Sharpe-Jerami-Grant-injury-updates-for-NBA-Cup-game-vs-Warriors.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant injury updates for NBA Cup game vs. Warriors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-21T06:25:30-08:00">November 21st, 6:25am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-21T06:25:30-08:00">November 21st, 6:25am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers will look to keep their NBA Cup in-season tournament hopes alive on Friday night when they face the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/warriors-news-jimmy-butler-draymond-green-injury-report-blazers-nba-cup">Golden State Warriors at Chase Center</a> in San Francisco, but they may be doing so with a heavily depleted roster.</p><p>Multiple key players appear on Portland’s latest injury report ahead of the matchup, casting uncertainty over their availability in a high-stakes Group Play game.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The injury bug is killing us right now <a href="https://t.co/a5WTCUkgQc">pic.twitter.com/a5WTCUkgQc</a></p><p>— SleeperTrailBlazers (@SleeperBlazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/SleeperBlazers/status/1991367824175218734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-final-injury-update-suns-game">Jrue Holiday, who has emerged</a> as one of Portland’s most consistent two-way forces this season, is listed as questionable with a right calf strain. The veteran guard is averaging 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and his leadership has been crucial for a young Blazers squad navigating early-season injuries.</p><p>His status will likely be a game-time decision as Portland evaluates his ability to move and defend at full speed.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-dunk-contest-shaedon-sharpe-tomahawk-pelicans">Joining him on the injury list is Shaedon Sharpe</a>, who is also questionable due to a right calf strain. The explosive third-year guard has taken a major leap as a scorer and playmaker, and his ability to generate offense off the dribble has been vital with Damian Lillard sidelined.</p><p>Portland will need his athleticism and shot creation if they hope to keep pace with Golden State’s perimeter-heavy attack.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-jerami-grant-yves-missi-ejected-trail-blazers-pelicans-fight">The most encouraging update concerns Jerami Grant</a>, who is listed as probable despite dealing with an illness. Grant has been on a scoring tear, averaging 33.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 55.6% over his last 10 games. If available, he will likely shoulder a heavy offensive load regardless of who else suits up.</p><p>In addition to Lillard (left Achilles management) and Scoot Henderson (hamstring tear), the Blazers will again be without Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, and likely Robert Williams III, who <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-11-21_07AM.pdf" rel="noopener">remains questionable</a> with knee injury management.</p><p>Portland enters the contest at 6-9, ninth in the Western Conference, while Golden State sits just ahead at 9-8. The Blazers won the previous matchup 139-119 on October 25, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-deni-avdija-apologizes-game-winning-attempt">powered by Deni Avdija’s 26-point performance</a>.</p><p>With NBA Cup advancement stakes on the line, the availability of Holiday and Sharpe could decide whether Portland can repeat that early-season success.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant injury updates for NBA Cup game vs. Warriors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/hbcu/former-hbcu-star-makes-nba-debut-in-loss-to-bulls');   ga('set', 'title', 'Former HBCU star makes NBA debut in loss to Bulls');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0227.jpeg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Former HBCU star makes NBA debut in loss to Bulls</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-20T12:48:18-08:00">November 20th, 12:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-20T12:48:58-08:00">November 20th, 12:48pm</time><address><a>Randall Barnes</a>Randall Barnes is a Fall 2019 Graduate of Fort Valley State University, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) in Fort Valley, Georgia, where he majored in Media Studies. He is the Founder of HBCU Pulse, a multimedia outlet with the mission to tell the authentic stories of HBCU Life via traditional, digital and social media outlets to amplify our voice. He is also the host of HBCU Pulse Radio, which can be heard on SiriusXM Channel 142 HBCU Fridays at 5 p.m. EST and wherever you get your podcasts.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">HBCU</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-nikola-vucevic-saves-chicago-walk-off-3-blazers">Bulls’ thrilling 122-121 victory over the Trail Blazers</a>, an HBCU star made his debut. Former <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/trail-blazers-news-portland-roster-addition-season-opener">Winston-Salem State guard Javonte Cooke logged minutes</a> for the Blazers in their bid to score another key victory. He finished the game with four points, one assist, and a steal. The moment, though brief, is huge for both Cooke and HBCU sports as a whole. Cooke is the first HBCU alumnus to touch the NBA hardwood since Robert Covington, and Cooke’s talent can surely make him a rotational player for the Blazers as they make a serious playoff push out West.</p><p>Cook was a standout for the Winston-Salem State Rams in the CIAA, a blueblood HBCU hoops program. In the 2021-2022 season, he averaged 17.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and nearly 40% shooting from three-point range. A standout moment in his college career was during the CIAA Tournament when he scored a season-high 31 points, propelling WSSU to a decisive victory. Prior to his time at WSSU, Cook played for USC-Aiken and Mars Hill University.</p><p>After his time at the college level, Cooke signed with the Iowa Wolves for the 2022-23 season and went on to join the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 2023 NBA Summer League. Despite a slow beginning, he concluded the summer league with consecutive double-digit scoring games, highlighted by a team-leading 16 points against the Charlotte Hornets. He then signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the eventual NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder in 2024.</p><p>Per Yahoo Sports, an Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year agreement with a minimum salary that is not guaranteed. It may also feature an optional bonus of up to $75,000, awarded if a player, after being waived, spends at least 60 days with a team’s G League affiliate. Following that, he was signed to a two-way contract by the Portland Trail Blazers.</p><p>In a quote obtained by HBCU Gameday, Cook<a href="https://hbcugameday.com/2023/07/05/minnesota-timberwolves-summer-league-includes-g-leaguer-from-hbcu/" rel="noopener"> </a><a href="https://hbcugameday.com/2023/07/05/minnesota-timberwolves-summer-league-includes-g-leaguer-from-hbcu/" rel="noopener">offered simple advice</a> to HBCU players looking to forge the same journey he did.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Former HBCU star makes NBA debut in loss to Bulls

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-final-injury-update-suns-game');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Jrue Holiday gets final injury update for Suns game');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Blazers-guard-Jrue-Holiday-eyes-the-basket-vs.-Lakers.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Jrue Holiday gets final injury update for Suns game</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T17:19:15-08:00">November 18th, 5:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T17:19:33-08:00">November 18th, 5:19pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers (6-7) have had an uneven campaign to this point, dropping four of their last five games after starting 4-2, but Jrue Holiday has been a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-vintage-performance-crushed-lakers">welcome addition to the team</a>. He is bringing offensive stability and a wealth of hoops wisdom to Rip City, seamlessly reestablishing himself as a trusted scoring option. Unfortunately, though, the Blazers will not be able to call upon the two-time NBA champion for Tuesday’s game versus the Phoenix Suns (8-6).</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-injury-update-suns">Just as was expected</a>, Holiday is being <a href="https://x.com/TheSteinLine/status/1990933373057962305" rel="noopener">ruled out due to calf soreness</a>, per NBA correspondent Marc Stein. This will mark the second straight game the veteran point guard misses. Portland and Phoenix are both scrappy, but this disappointing news will force Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant to carry an even larger burden on offense. The squad could also struggle to replace Holiday’s physicality.</p><p>The two-time All-Star and three-time All-Defensive First-Team selection is posting 16.7 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. He is also shooting 36.5 percent from 3-point range, a welcome statistic for a Blazers group that is only 33.3 percent from distance this season (26th in NBA). Apart from the big-game experience that Holiday offers, one of the main reasons why Portland traded for him this past summer was for the balance he could add to the roster.</p><p>The 35-year-old will have to find another way to contribute versus Phoenix. The Blazers allowed 278 points in their last two games combined, so they must stand strong defensively versus Devin Booker and the visiting Suns. Perhaps Jrue Holiday can give his teammates some tips from the sidelines. The action tips off at approximately 11 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Jrue Holiday gets final injury update for Suns game

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-injury-update-suns');   ga('set', 'title', 'Blazers’ Jrue Holiday injury update is bad news for Suns showdown');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Jrue-Holiday-during-Trail-Blazers-game-in-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Stephen Lew-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Blazers’ Jrue Holiday injury update is bad news for Suns showdown</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-18T07:52:40-08:00">November 18th, 7:52am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-18T07:52:40-08:00">November 18th, 7:52am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns are set to go head-to-head on Tuesday night. Jrue Holiday is among the Blazers listed on the NBA injury report, however. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-jrue-holiday-vintage-performance-crushed-lakers">Holiday is one of the better players on the Trail Blazers</a> and Portland would obviously love to have him on the floor. The veteran guard is <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-11-18_10AM.pdf" rel="noopener">currently listed as doubtful to play</a> due to right calf soreness.</p><p>Overall, Portland is 6-7 to begin the new campaign, sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. The Blazers are not playing an incredibly impressive brand of basketball, but they look like a team that may be able to compete for an NBA Play-In Tournament position at the moment.</p><p>With that being said, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/houston-rockets/rockets-rumors-jeff-teague-predicts-jrue-holiday-trade-houston">Holiday could emerge as a trade candidate</a> closer to the deadline. Perhaps Portland will consider keeping him on the roster if the team is competitive this season. Either way, Holiday is still a reliable guard in the NBA.</p><p>The 35-year-old is averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per outing in his first season with the Blazers. He is also finding the bottom of the net from the field 44.6 percent of the time and from beyond the arc 36.5 percent of the time.</p><p>The Trail Blazers are still a few years away from becoming a legitimate championship contender. Having a veteran such as Jrue Holiday to help the younger players should only help matters. As for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Suns, though, Holiday is unlikely to be available.</p><p>Tip-off is scheduled for 11 PM EST in Portland.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Blazers’ Jrue Holiday injury update is bad news for Suns showdown

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-deni-avdija-apologizes-game-winning-attempt');   ga('set', 'title', 'Deni Avdija apologizes for one of the worst game-winning attempts you’ll ever see');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Portland-Trail-Blazers-forward-Deni-Avdija-reacts-during-the-second-half-against-the-Dallas-Mavericks-at-American-Airlines-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Deni Avdija apologizes for one of the worst game-winning attempts you’ll ever see</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-17T09:28:54-08:00">November 17th, 9:28am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-17T09:28:54-08:00">November 17th, 9:28am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Portland Trail Blazers<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ajay-mitchell-5-most-jaw-dropping-surprises-start-2025-26-nba-season"> have a real ace in Deni Avdija</a>. Currently, he is averaging 26.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game.</p><p>However, he <a href="https://x.com/BrickCenter_/status/1990255582117536050" rel="noopener">came up woefully short</a> when the game was on the line against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. With the seconds ticking down and the game tied at 118, Avdija stumbled and threw up an off-balance airball that took the game into overtime.</p><p>Ultimately, the Blazers lost 138-133 and are now 6-7.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">DENI ADVIJA FOR THE WIN 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/CjTuqFO3WB">pic.twitter.com/CjTuqFO3WB</a></p><p>— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrickCenter_/status/1990255582117536050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Afteward, Avdija <a href="https://x.com/highkin/status/1990277495736905959" rel="noopener">took accountability</a> for the missed attempt, per Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report.</p><p>“I take responsibility for that last shot. I could have done better,” he said. “It’s on me. I wasted the clock too much and went for that three. I should have either drove a little bit or gotten closer. But I’m learning from it. I should have been smarter.”</p><p>Avdija has been with Portland since last year. Previously, he played four seasons (2020-2024) with the Washington Wizards. In July, Avdija <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-deni-avdija-knife-back-admission-wizards-trade">was traded from the Wizards to the Blazers</a>. Last season, Avdija averaged 16.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his first season in Portland.</p><p>Altogether, Avdija is an effective playmaker, a great transition player, and a strong driver to the basket.</p><h2><b>Deni Avdija made an impact on the Israeli national team</b></h2><p>Before he made his way to the NBA, Avdija was an exceptional talent in his home country of Israel. His stomping ground was playing for the youth national team and later the senior national team.</p><p>In 2018 and 2019, he led Israel to back-to-back gold medals at the FIBA U20 European Championships. He received the MVP honors during the 2019 tournament.</p><p>Additionally, he helped lead Maccabi Tel Aviv to three Israeli League championships between 2018 and 2020.</p><p>Also, he was the MVP of the Basketball Without Borders Europe and Global camps in 2019 and 2020.</p><p>In 2020, Avdija was drafted by the Wizards as the ninth overall pick in the NBA Draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Deni Avdija apologizes for one of the worst game-winning attempts you’ll ever see

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/ajay-mitchell-5-most-jaw-dropping-surprises-start-2025-26-nba-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ajay Mitchell and the 5 most jaw-dropping surprises to start 2025-26 NBA season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ajay-Mitchell-and-the-5-most-jaw-dropping-surprises-to-start-2025-26-NBA-season.jpg"></figure><h1>Ajay Mitchell and the 5 most jaw-dropping surprises to start 2025-26 NBA season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-11-16T10:21:38-08:00">November 16th, 10:21am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-11-16T10:21:38-08:00">November 16th, 10:21am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Basketball is a star-driven sport. A lot of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-top-100-player-rankings-2025-26-season-50-11">best players in the NBA</a> have been doing their thing for quite some time now. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-longest-careers-history">LeBron James, for example, has been in the NBA for a record 23 seasons</a>.</p><p>Despite the presence of proven stars, talent emerges out of nowhere every season. During the early part of the 2025-26 season, in particular, there have been a number of unheralded players who have broken onto the scene.</p><p>Check out the gallery to see the five best pleasant surprises of the NBA’s young campaign so far.</p><h2><b>5. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Deni-Avdija.jpg"><figcaption>Troy Taormina-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Deni Avdija started to look like a star late last season. After the All-Star break, Avdija averaged 23.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. However, numbers can get wonky late in the season, so a lot of fans weren’t fully convinced, and Avdija wasn’t yet established as a star coming into the year.</p><p>Now, there is no choice but to accept Avdija’s brilliance. He is up to 25.8 points per game and will legitimately contend for an All-Star spot. Avdija was once thought of as a jack of all trades and a master of none, but he is pretty great at numerous aspects of basketball.</p><p>He has thrived despite being forced to lead a team that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-arrested-terry-rozier-fbi-sports-gambling-probe">lost its coach, Chauncey Billups</a>, at the start of the season because of an illegal gambling scandal.</p><h2><b>4. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Alex-Sarr.jpg"><figcaption>Erik Williams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Last season, Alex Sarr was viewed as somewhat of a disappointment in an overall underwhelming rookie class. The No. 2 overall pick was top six among his <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_2024.html" rel="noopener">first-year peers</a> in minutes, points, assists, and rebounds. However, he didn’t look like he’d become the star that the Washington Wizards needed.</p><p>Sarr has looked much better in year two, averaging 19.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. His athletic prowess is impressive for a big man, and it translates to transition points and great inside-outside defense.</p><p>Sarr is fun, as is the rest of Washington’s young core. The team is still developing, and they’ll likely lose a lot of games this year, but Sarr is headed in the right direction and looks capable of leading this franchise.</p><h2><b>3. Keyonte George, Utah Jazz</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Keyonte-George.jpg"><figcaption>Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Utah Jazz have outperformed expectations at times in recent years, largely because they have a number of unheralded players. Keyonte George is one such player who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. George is an effective playmaker (7.1 assists per game), and he balances his game with improved scoring marks (21.3 points per game).</p><p>George gets downhill effectively at will on the offensive end. When he pressures the rim, he can score inside, but if the defense collapses, he thrives at getting his teammates involved. At the pace he is at, it could very well culminate in a Most Improved Player award at season’s end.</p><h2><b>2. Ryan Rollins, Milwaukee Bucks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ryan-Rollins.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ryan Rollins joined the Milwaukee Bucks last season. It was the third team he’d play for in as many seasons. Rollins was a bust during his previous stops with the Golden State Warriors and the Wizards. It looked like he wasn’t long for the NBA, but he started to show signs of life with the Bucks last season.</p><p>This year, he has really burst onto the scene. Rollins is averaging 16.9 points per game and shooting the deep ball at a 45.7% clip. Rollins’ calling card is defense, though. He is a pesky defender who thrives in the point-of-attack. The Bucks are more of a threat than originally anticipated, and Rollins’ development from a nearly out-of-the-league player to a solid starter alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo is a big reason why.</p><h2><b>1. Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Ajay-Mitchell.jpg"><figcaption>Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder’s rebuild, which led to a championship victory last season, has been so successful because the Thunder find players who fit their system, and they turn them into elite role players. Ajay Mitchell is the latest success story of the Thunder’s talent evaluation and player development program.</p><p>The team has had and will continue having a surplus of first-round picks, but Mitchell was a second-round selection last year. He didn’t play much of a role during the Thunder’s championship run, but he has stepped up to be their sixth man so far and the results have been a pleasant surprise.</p><p>Mitchell is averaging 16.7 points per game, the third most on a deep team loaded with talent. The Thunder have reaped the rewards, as despite the fact that they’ve <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunders-jalen-williams-undergoes-another-wrist-procedure">been without Jalen Williams,</a> they still only have one loss on the season thus far.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Portland
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Trail Blazers News: Get the latest Portland Trail Blazers news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Trail Blazers News

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PortlandTrail Blazers NEWS

Trail Blazers News: Get the latest Portland Trail Blazers news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Trail Blazers News

Blazers rumors: Portland changes tune on Robert Williams III trade

Blazers’ Damian Lillard shares ‘life-changing experience’ amid big move off the court

Could you imagine Deni Avdija in NFL? Blazers announcers yuk it up on broadcast

Exclusive: Jrue Holiday reveals how Damian Lillard is helping Blazers despite season-long injury absence

Blazers’ Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges stemming from gambling scandal

Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups to plead not guilty to sports betting charges

Blazers’ Jrue Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant injury updates for NBA Cup game vs. Warriors

• Former HBCU star makes NBA debut in loss to Bulls

• Blazers’ Jrue Holiday gets final injury update for Suns game

• Blazers’ Jrue Holiday injury update is bad news for Suns showdown

• Deni Avdija apologizes for one of the worst game-winning attempts you’ll ever see

• Ajay Mitchell and the 5 most jaw-dropping surprises to start 2025-26 NBA season

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