Fox chips – Deni Avdija battled through a chipped tooth after contact from De’Aaron Fox, but Portland fell 120-108 to San Antonio in Game 3—leaving the Blazers facing a must-win Game 4.
Playoff basketball in Portland has a different sound when shots tighten and bodies collide.
In Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. a moment that started as pure physicality—De’Aaron Fox driving through traffic—turned into a flash of reality for Deni Avdija.. The collision to Avdija’s mouth chipped a tooth. yet the Blazers forward stayed in the fight. shook it off. and treated it like just another playoff checkpoint.
Portland felt the momentum shift immediately after.. Avdija was sent to the free-throw line and cashed in both attempts, converting the contact into points instead of panic.. Those makes were more than just numbers on the board; they signaled what Portland needed most in a game that demanded toughness. tempo. and nerve.. When the playoffs get physical. teams don’t only need skill—they need players willing to absorb impact and keep moving.
But the night belonged to the Spurs in the end.. San Antonio walked out of the Moda Center with a 120-108 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the series. even with superstar Victor Wembanyama unavailable due to concussion protocol.. Without their most imposing offensive and defensive presence. the Spurs still controlled enough key sequences—especially on the attack—to keep Portland from turning Avdija’s effort into a true swing in the series.
Avdija, for his part, carried a heavy load.. He finished with 19 points. nine assists. and six rebounds. attacking the game in multiple directions rather than leaning on one lane.. His night at the free-throw line was a statement of aggression and playmaking under duress. where he went 12-for-16 from the stripe.. The free throws also hinted at what Spurs defenders forced Portland to do: get into the body. draw contact. and live with the consequences.
The issue for Portland was the rest of the scoring picture.. Avdija struggled from the floor overall. going 3-for-15. and that gap mattered in a playoff game decided by margins and efficiency.. When a star-level production driver has a tough shooting night. the supporting cast must compensate—whether through better shot selection. sharper spacing. or simply taking advantage of moments created by the primary ball-handler.. San Antonio’s defense and pace made that difficult.
Stephon Castle led the Spurs’ offense with 33 points. and the way San Antonio distributed responsibilities without Wembanyama showed a team prepared for the specific problem of a playoff roster adjustment.. Castle’s ability to organize attacks—rather than just chase points—helped keep Portland from settling into a rhythm.. Even when the Blazers pushed back, the Spurs had an answer that looked more like structure than luck.
The series now shifts into a high-pressure pocket for Portland.. Heading into Game 4. the Blazers face the immediate reality of a must-win—an assignment that often separates “almost” from “enough.” Avdija’s willingness to take the hit. shake it off. and still deliver at the line sets a tone. but Portland will need more nights like that across the rotation.. The tooth can be replaced; the opportunity in front of the home crowd can’t.
What makes Game 4 especially intriguing is how both teams will respond to the same lesson from Game 3: toughness matters. but shot-making decides outcomes.. If Portland can find a better offensive rhythm—starting with more reliable efficiency beyond the free-throw line—then Avdija’s aggression can become a catalyst instead of a lone highlight.. For San Antonio. the challenge is to keep their identity intact even as the pressure rises with every possession and every adjustment.