Joe Freeman
@freemanjoe.bsky.social
Senior Writer for The Oregonian/OregonLive covering the Portland Trail Blazers and NBA.
From last night: Jerami Grant returns, Trail Blazers beat Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026... »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026... »
Jerami Grant returns, Trail Blazers beat Hawks
After limping through the first half of the regular season with the second-most injuries in the NBA, the Blazers are finally, slowly, regaining their health.
www.oregonlive.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
From last night: Jerami Grant returns, Trail Blazers beat Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026... »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026... »
Pregame update: Grant will return tonight under a minute-restriction.
Afternoon update: Avdija is out and Grant is probable vs. Hawks.
The Blazers have upgraded the injury status of Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant ahead of tonight's game vs. the Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
January 16, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Pregame update: Grant will return tonight under a minute-restriction.
Afternoon update: Avdija is out and Grant is probable vs. Hawks.
The Blazers have upgraded the injury status of Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant ahead of tonight's game vs. the Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers injuries: Status of Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant upgraded ahead of Hawks game
The playing status of two key Blazers players has been upgraded ahead of Thursday night's game at the Moda Center.
www.oregonlive.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Afternoon update: Avdija is out and Grant is probable vs. Hawks.
After opening the season looking to "Make 'Em Uncomfortable," it is the Trail Blazers who have had to cope with being uncomfortable:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers at midseason: Resilience defines 1st half of adversity, chaos, clutch games
Portland opened the season looking to "Make 'Em Uncomfortable," but after a 41-game stretch of ups and downs, it is the Blazers who have had to cope with being uncomfortable.
www.oregonlive.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:36 PM
After opening the season looking to "Make 'Em Uncomfortable," it is the Trail Blazers who have had to cope with being uncomfortable:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
The Blazers have upgraded the injury status of Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant ahead of tonight's game vs. the Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers injuries: Status of Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant upgraded ahead of Hawks game
The playing status of two key Blazers players has been upgraded ahead of Thursday night's game at the Moda Center.
www.oregonlive.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:32 PM
The Blazers have upgraded the injury status of Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant ahead of tonight's game vs. the Hawks:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers at midseason: Resilience defines 1st half of adversity, chaos, clutch games »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers at midseason: Resilience defines 1st half of adversity, chaos, clutch games
Portland opened the season looking to "Make 'Em Uncomfortable,' but after a 41-game stretch of ups and downs, it is the Blazers who have had to cope with being uncomfortable.
www.oregonlive.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Trail Blazers at midseason: Resilience defines 1st half of adversity, chaos, clutch games »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija (lower back soreness) will not play when the Blazers visit the Warriors on Tuesday night. Evaluation of his ailment is ongoing:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija to miss game vs. Golden State Warriors with injury
The standout point-forward has been ruled out of the Blazers’ nationally-televised matchup against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center with lower back soreness.
www.oregonlive.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Deni Avdija (lower back soreness) will not play when the Blazers visit the Warriors on Tuesday night. Evaluation of his ailment is ongoing:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija has been ruled out of the Blazers' Tuesday game at the Golden State Warriors with lower back soreness and evaluation of his injury is ongoing. It will be the first game Avdija has missed this season.
January 13, 2026 at 1:12 AM
Deni Avdija has been ruled out of the Blazers' Tuesday game at the Golden State Warriors with lower back soreness and evaluation of his injury is ongoing. It will be the first game Avdija has missed this season.
There were pain-free smiles in one corner of the Blazers locker room Sunday night … and agonizing winces in another corner.
Such is the 2025-26 Blazers season.
“It just kind of sucks. One person comes back, another person gets hurt.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Such is the 2025-26 Blazers season.
“It just kind of sucks. One person comes back, another person gets hurt.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija exits Blazers’ loss to Knicks with injury, spoiling Jrue Holiday’s return
Just as one important Blazers player returned, another went down.
www.oregonlive.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
There were pain-free smiles in one corner of the Blazers locker room Sunday night … and agonizing winces in another corner.
Such is the 2025-26 Blazers season.
“It just kind of sucks. One person comes back, another person gets hurt.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Such is the 2025-26 Blazers season.
“It just kind of sucks. One person comes back, another person gets hurt.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija exits Trail Blazers’ loss to Knicks with injury, spoiling Jrue Holiday’s return:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija exits Blazers’ loss to Knicks with injury, spoiling Jrue Holiday’s return
Just as one important Blazers player returned, another went down.
www.oregonlive.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Deni Avdija exits Trail Blazers’ loss to Knicks with injury, spoiling Jrue Holiday’s return:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija said his immediate status was uncertain, but he described the injury as "nothing major."
"I'm not really concerned," Avdija said. "I'm a tough guy. I'm going to be all right. ... I’m telling you, as soon as I'm walking on two feet, I'll be able to play."
"I'm not really concerned," Avdija said. "I'm a tough guy. I'm going to be all right. ... I’m telling you, as soon as I'm walking on two feet, I'll be able to play."
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Deni Avdija said his immediate status was uncertain, but he described the injury as "nothing major."
"I'm not really concerned," Avdija said. "I'm a tough guy. I'm going to be all right. ... I’m telling you, as soon as I'm walking on two feet, I'll be able to play."
"I'm not really concerned," Avdija said. "I'm a tough guy. I'm going to be all right. ... I’m telling you, as soon as I'm walking on two feet, I'll be able to play."
Avdija suffered the injury after snaring a defensive rebound and immediately left the court. "I just felt my back give up on me and I couldn't straighten up."
Deni Avdija, who departed Sunday's game vs. the Knicks with 1:53 left after tweaking his low back, sported a wrap around his body and was in obvious pain in the postgame locker room.
January 12, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Avdija suffered the injury after snaring a defensive rebound and immediately left the court. "I just felt my back give up on me and I couldn't straighten up."
Deni Avdija, who departed Sunday's game vs. the Knicks with 1:53 left after tweaking his low back, sported a wrap around his body and was in obvious pain in the postgame locker room.
January 12, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Deni Avdija, who departed Sunday's game vs. the Knicks with 1:53 left after tweaking his low back, sported a wrap around his body and was in obvious pain in the postgame locker room.
Tiago Splitter says Holiday will return today on a minutes restriction.
A notable development on the Trail Blazer' injury report: Jrue Holiday has been upgraded to probable for today's game vs. the New York Knicks. The starting point guard has not played since Nov. 14 — a span of 27 games — because of a right calf strain.
January 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Tiago Splitter says Holiday will return today on a minutes restriction.
A notable development on the Trail Blazer' injury report: Jrue Holiday has been upgraded to probable for today's game vs. the New York Knicks. The starting point guard has not played since Nov. 14 — a span of 27 games — because of a right calf strain.
January 11, 2026 at 6:09 PM
A notable development on the Trail Blazer' injury report: Jrue Holiday has been upgraded to probable for today's game vs. the New York Knicks. The starting point guard has not played since Nov. 14 — a span of 27 games — because of a right calf strain.
From last night ... Deni Avdija ‘laughs’ off ‘zebra’ criticism, Trail Blazers beat Rockets for 5th straight win.
“It’s definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff."
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
“It’s definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff."
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija ‘laughs’ off ‘zebra’ criticism, Blazers batter Rockets for 5th straight win
"I’m very aggressive," Avdija said. "I initiate the contact and that’s my game … if it’s hard to stop, you’ve got to own it or do something else."
www.oregonlive.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:51 PM
From last night ... Deni Avdija ‘laughs’ off ‘zebra’ criticism, Trail Blazers beat Rockets for 5th straight win.
“It’s definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff."
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
“It’s definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff."
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
"... I'm going straight through them. And I'm not playing for those fouls, but I'm going to get fouled. This is part of the game. I can't control it. I'm very aggressive. I initiate the contact and that's my game. If it's hard to stop, you’ve got to own it or do something else."
I asked Deni Avdija for his reaction to Tari Eason's "zebra" comment. His response: "That made me laugh, for real. Let's address it. I drive the most in the league. I'm very physical. I'm not shying away from contact. I'm going downhill. And I don't care who's in front of me ..." (continued)
January 10, 2026 at 6:33 AM
"... I'm going straight through them. And I'm not playing for those fouls, but I'm going to get fouled. This is part of the game. I can't control it. I'm very aggressive. I initiate the contact and that's my game. If it's hard to stop, you’ve got to own it or do something else."
I asked Deni Avdija for his reaction to Tari Eason's "zebra" comment. His response: "That made me laugh, for real. Let's address it. I drive the most in the league. I'm very physical. I'm not shying away from contact. I'm going downhill. And I don't care who's in front of me ..." (continued)
January 10, 2026 at 6:32 AM
I asked Deni Avdija for his reaction to Tari Eason's "zebra" comment. His response: "That made me laugh, for real. Let's address it. I drive the most in the league. I'm very physical. I'm not shying away from contact. I'm going downhill. And I don't care who's in front of me ..." (continued)
Deni Avdija on the Blazers' Friday night over Houston: "It's definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row, after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff. ... Even if I lose, I just own it. You know what I'm saying? It's a part of the game. But I'm happy."
January 10, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Deni Avdija on the Blazers' Friday night over Houston: "It's definitely fun to win a team two nights in a row, after all the excuses in the locker room, all the zebra stuff. ... Even if I lose, I just own it. You know what I'm saying? It's a part of the game. But I'm happy."
From last night: A missing tooth, ‘MVP’ chants and another frenetic finish lead to wild Trail Blazers' win over the Rockets »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
A missing tooth, ‘MVP’ chants and another frenetic finish as Trail Blazers beat Rockets
Deni Avdija scores season-high 41 points while Toumani Camara plays through chipped tooth in dramatic victory at Moda Center
www.oregonlive.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:12 PM
From last night: A missing tooth, ‘MVP’ chants and another frenetic finish lead to wild Trail Blazers' win over the Rockets »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Deni Avdija has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 26.8 points, 9.8 assists and 8.3 rebounds over four games, while leading the Blazers to a 3-1 record.
January 5, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Deni Avdija has been named the Western Conference Player of the Week. He averaged 26.8 points, 9.8 assists and 8.3 rebounds over four games, while leading the Blazers to a 3-1 record.
Anfernee Simons returns to Portland for ‘weird’ reunion with old Trail Blazers teammates:
"It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
"It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Anfernee Simons returns to Portland for ‘weird’ reunion with old Trail Blazers teammates
Simons finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two steals and one assist in his first visit to Portland since the offseason trade that sent him to Boston.
www.oregonlive.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Anfernee Simons returns to Portland for ‘weird’ reunion with old Trail Blazers teammates:
"It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
"It was fun embracing the moment and embracing the love … knowing that you made some type of impact here.”
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
How about a little holiday cheer amid another Trail Blazers loss, courtesy of injured point guard Blake Wesley?
Blazers player treats homeless man to Christmas Eve meal in random act of kindness:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Blazers player treats homeless man to Christmas Eve meal in random act of kindness:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Trail Blazers player treats homeless man to Christmas Eve meal in random act of kindness
Blake Wesley noticed a man wearing a Blazers cap and invited him to share a meal, continuing a tradition of community service instilled by his parents.
www.oregonlive.com
December 27, 2025 at 7:09 PM
How about a little holiday cheer amid another Trail Blazers loss, courtesy of injured point guard Blake Wesley?
Blazers player treats homeless man to Christmas Eve meal in random act of kindness:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Blazers player treats homeless man to Christmas Eve meal in random act of kindness:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Trail Blazers turn Fred Meyer into playground of joy for families struggling during holidays:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
Trail Blazers turn Fred Meyer into playground of joy for families struggling during holidays
The Blazers on Wednesday hosted eight families from local nonprofit organizations for a shopping spree and scavenger hunt at a suburban Fred Meyer.
www.oregonlive.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Trail Blazers turn Fred Meyer into playground of joy for families struggling during holidays:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2025...