Trail Blazers Miss Opportunity in NBA Cup against Spurs
Portland Trail Blazers missed the opportunity to secure Group C in the NBA Cup West, falling 115-102 to the San Antonio Spurs at the Moda Center. The Spurs, for their part, took the victory and are now preparing for a decisive match in Denver. For both teams, the NBA Cup represents a valuable opportunity to compete in meaningful games, especially after seasons without playoff appearances.Deni Avdija, with 37 points, led the Blazers. The player expressed that he felt the atmosphere of a playoff game, a valuable experience for the young team. The Blazers faced the game with significant absences, including Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, and Matisse Thybulle. This meant that only two players with playoff experience were on the court. San Antonio, on the other hand, had a lineup with more experience, including veteran players. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson highlighted the importance of the upcoming game against the Nuggets, which will define the pass to the NBA Cup quarterfinals.We wanted that victory. It was a good opportunity to advance in the Cup. We fought. We tried to stay in the game. It was a tough match, a close match.
Deni Avdija
De’Aaron Fox tied Avdija with 37 points, demonstrating his importance to the Spurs, especially after his arrival to the team in February. As San Antonio advances in the NBA Cup, Portland will seek to capitalize on the lessons learned in this encounter.Obviously, players want to get to Las Vegas, they want to play in the championship game.
De’Aaron Fox
I think it was a disappointing loss, but it was a good loss for us to learn from because we will be in those positions in the future. Obviously, we wanted to win, but definitely a good test for us in the years to come.
Deni Avdija
