If the Denver Nuggets were going to beat the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night at the Moda Center without superstar center Nikola Jokic, they were going to have to stop Deni Avdija. Denver head coach Michael Malone seemed to know that — after all, Avdija had just punished the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday for 31 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists.
“He’s ultra-aggressive, really physical, great size, shooting the 3-point shot extremely well, very confident, and when he gets downhill to that right hand he’s a problem,” Malone said about Avdija at Friday’s pregame media availability. “And they’re putting the ball in his hands a ton.