Deni Avdija didn’t bother hiding his frustration Wednesday night.
During Portland’s 132-119 win over Phoenix, the Trail Blazers forward was caught on video jawing at Suns wing Dillon Brooks while standing at the free throw line, and the exchange quickly turned ugly. Griffin S. DeMarrais of azfamily 3TV CBS 5 posted the clip on X, formerly known as Twitter, showing Avdija directing an expletive-filled message at Brooks.
“You're the bitch flopping, what are you talking about,” Avdija said.
It was the latest flashpoint in a game that had plenty of edge, and Brooks was right in the middle of it again. Earlier in the night, he got into a heated confrontation with Portland guard Damian Lillard after a sequence near the sideline. Brooks was whistled for stepping out of bounds while pump-faking against Lillard’s defense, but he kept the play alive and went up for a 3-pointer anyway.
Deni Avdija to Dillon Brooks while at the free throw line
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 5, 2026
“You’re the bitch flopping, what are you talking about”
(h/t @GDeMarraisTV) pic.twitter.com/D8HFoVzHkH
As Lillard reached in to challenge the shot, Brooks appeared to extend his foot toward the veteran guard’s Achilles area. Lillard immediately confronted him, and referees along with Trail Blazers coaches stepped in before things escalated further.
The clash with Portland came only two days after Brooks was involved in another confrontation, this time with Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during Phoenix’s 116-113 loss Monday night.
Brooks has built a reputation over the years as one of the league’s most vocal and physical players, and Wednesday’s game fit that script. He finished with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in 35 minutes, shooting 7-for-15 from the field and 1-for-2 at the line while missing all three of his 3-point tries.
Avdija, meanwhile, kept Portland rolling. He put up 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 35 minutes, going 7-for-16 from the floor, 1-for-5 from deep and 6-for-9 on free throws. The 25-year-old helped the Trail Blazers win their third straight and improve to 6-1.
Phoenix’s rough start kept getting worse. The Suns fell to 1-6 after another double-digit defeat, while Portland continued to build momentum after its strong opening stretch.
In Other News...
Damian Lillard Had Every Reason To Explode Over Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks managed to turn a routine stoppage into one of those moments that instantly grabs everyones attention. During a game, the Phoenix Suns wing appeared to try to step on Damian Lillards Achilles after a whistle, and Lillard reacted immediately by confronting him before referees and coaches stepped in to keep it from getting any worse. Lillard was not injured, but the sequence still had the kind of edge that can linger long after the possession is over.
For Portland fans, it was another reminder of how quickly things can get heated when Lillard is involved in a physical matchup. He has always carried himself with a calm, steady presence, so when he goes straight at an opponent like that, it says plenty about how serious the moment felt. The incident ended without further escalation, but it left plenty of room for questions about what Brooks was trying to do and how the league will view the exchange. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Backcourt Takes Another Hit After Vt Krej Scare
Vt Krejs night ended in a hurry late in the third quarter against the Suns, and the sight of him leaving the arena on crutches with a protective boot only deepened the concern around Portlands backcourt. The Trail Blazers were already dealing with multiple injuries in that area, so another setback there is the last thing they needed as the season moves along.
The immediate issue now is the uncertainty around how long Krej will be out, with the team still waiting to learn more about the fracture to his lower left leg or ankle and whether surgery will be part of the recovery plan. For a Blazers group trying to piece together guard minutes on the fly, even a short absence would be a problem, and this one could linger well beyond that. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Brooks Is Giving Suns Fans The Wrong Kind Of Headlines
Dillon Brooks managed to turn a regular-season meeting with Portland into the kind of night that lingers long after the final buzzer. After a whistle, he kicked the back of Damian Lillards left leg, setting off a brief confrontation between the two before Lillard answered the moment the old-fashioned way, by getting back to work and finishing at the rim with Brooks in the picture.
The Blazers walked away with a 132-119 win, and Lillards 25 points helped make sure the on-court response mattered more than the post-whistle heat. Brooks still finished with 15 points for Phoenix, but the bigger takeaway for Portland was how quickly the game tilted from irritation to control, with Lillard making sure the last memorable play belonged to him. [Read more 🡒]