March 1, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Jrue Holiday (No. 5) makes a shot during the Portland Trail Blazers’ first quarter win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Deni Avdija, recovering from a back injury, is set to return to the Portland Trail Blazers lineup with interim coach Tiago Splitter developing a better mindset.
Portland travels to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday. They’ve lost two straight and four of their last six and are looking for production with a mixed lineup.
“We have guys coming back and we’re still trying to find our game with (different) lineups and who plays well with who,” Splitter said. “We have a better lineup defensively, a lineup that crashes the boards better, a better lineup offensively. There’s no balance yet. We’ve got to find it.
“And with Deni coming back soon, we have to be ready to adjust and find a balance with great first and second units. I don’t want to do that.”
Splitter said the Trail Blazers needed two days off to rest, practice and prepare for their final game of the season after Sunday’s 135-101 loss to Atlanta. The Trail Blazers are in position to participate in the play-in tournament, which begins April 14th.
In the loss to the Hawks, Jrue Holiday scored 23 points and Donovan Clingan led Portland with a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. But something is missing. Splitter said he was low on energy.
“The guys were trying. They just couldn’t get to (their) spot,” Splitter said. “We got small and couldn’t rebound.”
Bringing back Avdija would give a boost to the team hoping to make the postseason. Avdija, who has missed the last four games due to a back injury, is averaging 24.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season.
Avdija has recorded at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 22 games this season, trailing Luka Doncic (34) and Nikola Jokic (28).
Memphis will be playing its second straight game after losing 117-110 to the Timberwolves in Minnesota.
Despite the Grizzlies’ two-game winning streak being snapped, coach Tuomas Isalo was encouraged by the effort of the players he had available. While Minnesota had Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo each playing more than 26 minutes, the Grizzlies were without Ja Morant, who has missed his 18th straight game with a left elbow injury, and big man Jack Eddy, who has missed most of the season and will not return after undergoing surgery on his left ankle on Tuesday.
“I think they should be very proud of themselves,” Iisalo said of his players’ effort. “It’s something we’ve talked about and it’s non-negotiable for us (trying) and playing together.
“I thought we did a great job in transition and I thought we were very effective moving the ball on offense.”
The Grizzlies were helped by the return of rookie Cedric Coward, who had missed the previous seven games with a right knee injury. Coward, normally a starting pitcher, came off the bench and scored 15 points in 21 minutes.
–Field level media
