The Brief Case

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers rallying yet again in the fourth quarter to defeat the Spurs in San Antonio to even the series at 1-1 • At this point building a lead, losing it and then going down double digits in the fourth before coming away with the win is the Trail Blazers' SOP • Scoot Henderson has the best game of his life to tilt the scales in Portland's favor while becoming the youngest Blazer to score at least 30 points in a playoff game • Scoot gets it done on both sides of the ball by leading the Trail Blazers in scoring and geting "the box" • Scoot finally has his moment after staying the course through three up and down seasons • Jrue Holiday, Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara all made timely plays in the fourth • Robert Williams III has been the Trail Blazers' second best player through the first two games of the series and why you absolutely love to see it • Victor Wembanyama is in the concussion protocol and what that might mean for his stats for Games 3 and 4 in Portland • Get out to Moda for Game 3 (Friday at 7:30 p.m) and Game 4 (Sunday at 12:30 p.m.)

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers losing 111-98 to the Spurs in Game 1 of the two/seven matchup of the Western Conference Playoffs • Trail Blazers hang around for the first three quarters despite not playing all that well • Portland gets to within two early in the third, but a few turnovers later, the lead was back to double digits and would remain there for the rest of the game • Deni Avdija joins LeBron James as the only players to post at least 30 points, at least 10 rebounds and at least five assists in their playoff debut • Scoot Henderson and Robert Williams III were both up to the task Sunday in San Antonio • What the Trail Blazers did well (taking care of the ball, defending without fouling) and what they'll need to improve upon (second chance points, three-point shooting) to have a chance in Game 2 Tuesday in San Antonio • Deni Avdija is named a finalist for the 2026 Most Improved Player Award along with Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Detroit's Jalen Duren • All the MIP candidates have a good case, but Deni is the only one who can claim to also be Most Improved AND the best player on his team this season • And if we're looking at Game 1 playoff performances (and the votes are already cast, so w're really not), Deni's Game 1 was considerably better than Duren or Alexander-Walker • Get out to Moda Center for Game 3

Send us Fan Mail On this Play-In Tournament edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers beating the Suns in Phoenix in the seven/eight matchup of the 2026 Western Conference Play-In Tournament • Portland qualifies for the playoffs with the win for the first time since 2021 • Tuesday's win versus the Suns was similar to a number of the Trail Blazers' wins in the last month of the season • Portland goes up, then down, then up again • Refusing to fold after enduring a 22-4 run even with another chance of making the playoffs • Deni Avdija with 41 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists is taking his place among the elite forwards in the Western Conference • Jerami Grant comes up huge in the fourth quarter in his first game back from a calf strain • Shaedon Sharpe with some big minutes as well in his third game after missing a few months with a stress reaction • Jrue Holiday, steady as always • The seven-seed Trail Blazers will now head to San Antonio to face the two-seed Spurs with Game One scheduled for Sunday • No one can't stop Victor Wembanyama but the Blazers might have enough to slow him down • You'll want to get your tickets for Games Three and Four at Moda Center ASAP

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Pelicans on Thursday to move into sole possession of eighth in the West with four games to play • Jrue Holiday continues to assert himself • Toumani Camara sets the league record for offensive fouls drawn and Donovan Clingan sets the franchise record for offensive rebounds in a season • Gaming out the final games of the season for the Trail Blazers and Clippers and how the most likely scenario would result in the winner of the April 10 game between the two teams getting the eight-seed in the play-in tournament • Breaking down the tiebreakers should the Trail Blazers and Clippers end the season with the same record • Tom Dundon, Sheel Tyle and Andrew Cheurng, three of the members of the Rip City Rising ownership group, are introduced for the first time prior to Thursday's game • Dundon's comments about the "big splash" trade the Trail Blazers considered at the 2026 trade deadline and how that might have played out differently under new ownership • The Rip City Remix defeating the Mexico City Capitanes to advance to the second round of the G League playoffs • A conversation with Trail Blazers great Buck Williams about his time in Portland, memories from the title runs in the early 90's, the current team, how the NBA has changed and his candidacy for the Naismith Hall of Fame, which will announce their 2026 class on Saturday

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Clippers in L.A. Tuesday night in what was Portland's most important game of the season thus far • Why coaches and teams sometimes pretend some games aren't more important than others (even if everyone knows it's not true) • The team taking Tiago Splitter's word to heart with their performance versus the Clippers • Tuesday's game being a perfect example of why you trade for Jrue Holiday • Robert Williams III, Matisse Thybulle and Kris Murray all turning in excellent efforts that are not properly credited in the box score • Deni Avdija playing his best game since the back injury • The considerable support Tuesday night at Intuit Dome for both Deni Avdija and the Trail Blazers in general • Tuesday's win doesn't really matter if they can't back it up with another Thursday versus the Pelicans • The Trail Blazers need to go 3-2, if not better, to give themselves a real chance to get into the eighth seed in the play-in tournament • The "Rip City Rising" ownership group officially takes control of the franchise • The seven-seed Rip City Remix heading south to face the two-seed Mexico City Capitanes in the first round of the "win or go home" G League playoffs

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Portland blowing out the Nets and Bucks before losing to the Mavericks • Finishing a four-game homestand with another blowout victory, this time versus the Wizards • Big games for Toumani Camara and Scoot Henderson • Tiago Splitter saying that Tuesday's game versus the Clippers is "the most important game of the season" • Not only standings but tiebreakers are up for grabs in Tuesday's game versus the Clippers • The current status of the race for position in the play-in tournament and how it very well might not be decided until the last day of the regular season • Moving up into eighth would be great, but the Blazers also have to be concerned dropping down to tenth • Breaking the remaining scheduled for the Clippers, Warriors and Trail Blazers

Send us Fan Mail On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers holding on to beat the Pacers in Indianapolis on Wednesday • Donovan Clingan gets a new career high in scoring and Deni Avdija returns to form • Portland's bad habit of letting teams back into games • The Trail Blazers getting one of their better wins of 2026 Friday night versus the Timberwolves in Minneapolis • Jerami Grant saves the day in the final minutes of the fourth quarter • Jrue Holiday just keeps turning in great yet quiet performances • The Trail Blazers are now in eighth in the Western Conference standings with 11 games to play • The difference between getting the seven/eight matchup versus the nine/ten matchup in the play-in tournament • Donovan Clingan's elite performance since the All-Star break • How Clingan leading the league in offensive rebound is integral to the Trail Blazers offense • Clingan is arguably the best player from his draft class and is already one of the NBA's best centers • Trail Blazers wrapping up a five-game trip Sunday afternoon in Denver (it's a 2 p.m. tipoff in Portland) before playing the second game of a back-to-back versus the Nets Monday night at Moda Center

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers getting a five-game road trip off to a disappoint start with a loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia • Turnovers are an issue yet again • If neither team is playing well, the home team is usually going to win • Taking a bus from Philadelphia to Manhattan • Portland bouncing back with a blowout victory versus the Nets in Brooklyn • Blazers lead by as many as 31 (good), give up a 16-0 run (bad) but do enough to get the comfortable win (good) • Jrue Holiday the cooler • Deni Avdija has fans everywhere, but it was on a different level Monday night in Brooklyn • Kris Murray backs up Donovan Clingan at center • Toumani Camara shakes off a tough game in Philly to play one of his best this season in Brooklyn • The Trail Blazers remain a half game behind the Warriors in the race to host a play-in game • The trip moves on to Indianapolis on Wednesday, Minneapolis on Friday and wraps up in Denver on Sunday

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Grizzlies in Memphis Wednesday night behind the play of Jrue, Jerami and Rob • Jrue, Rob and Jerami all doing more as we enter the last month of the regular season • Portland giving themselves a chance in the first three quarters before faltering in the fourth in Friday's loss to the Rockets • Finishing a five-game trip with a 2-3 record • Returning to Moda Center for three games before heading out for another five-game trip • After a rough road trip, Scoot Henderson turned in his best game of the season and one of the best games of his career to lead the Trail Blazers past the Pacers Sunday night • Deni Avdija returns in Sunday's win after missing six games with a back injury • Another late-game Blake Wesley to Yang Hansen connection • Hosting the Hornets and Jazz before a five game trip with stops in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Denver

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider discusses... • The Trail Blazers starting a five-game trip off with a victory versus the Chicago Bulls at United Center • Donovan Clingan, Kris Murray and Sidy Cissoko have all been sick • Robert Williams III comes up big versus the Bulls • Trail Blazers losing to the Hornets in Charlotte in a game that started at 10 am Portland time • The Blazers missing a lot of threes in a row versus the Hornets (but why they also have to keep shooting them) • Portland following up the loss in Charlotte on Saturday by losing to the Hawks in Atlanta on Sunday • You can't give up 44 points in the first quarter and expect to give yourself a chance of getting a win • Tiago Splitter says Deni Avdija is getting close to returning to the lineup • Having two days off before facing the Grizzlies on Memphis on Wednesday • Finishing up a five-game trip on Friday versus the Rockets in Houston

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers getting blown out by the Denver Nuggets in their first game back from the All-Star break • Blowouts happen, 53-point losses should not • Portland bouncing back by holding the Phoenix Suns to just 77 points in a win Sunday night • If the Trail Blazers are going to need to start winning consistently to move up in the play-in race • Deni Avdija leaves the game once again with a lower back injury • Matisse Thybulle, Kris Murray and Blake Wesley return • Sidy Cissoko has his two-way contract converted to a full NBA contract • Unfortunately to make room for Sidy the Trail Blazers had to waive Rayan Rupert • With most of the team healthy, Yang Hansen, Caleb Love and Javonte Cooke head to the Rip City Remix

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl, on location in Los Angeles for the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, discusses... • The Portland Trail Blazers having a great All-Star Weekend thus far • Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen performing well against each other in the Castrol Rising Stars on All-Star Friday night at Intuit Dome • What spending time at All-Star Weekend can do for young players • Damian Lillard, despite not having played this season, wins his third Three-Point Contest at the 2026 NBA All-Star Saturday night • Why Damian Lillard decided to compete in the Three-Point Contest • Dame becomes one of three players to win the even three times, which almost guarantees he'll try for a fourth • Dame winning the Three-Point Contest is just another reason to be enthusiastic about the Trail Blazers going forward • Deni Avdija prepares to play in his first NBA All-Star Game Sunday night

Send a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Grizzlies 135-155 Friday night at Moda Center in Scoot Henderson's first game of the season • It might have taken a long time for Scoot Henderson to make his 2025-26 season debut, but it didn't take him much time to have an impact once he did • Shaedon Sharpe is sidelined with a calf injury • Trail Blazers sweep a back-to-back with the Grizzlies by winning the second matchup on Saturday, also at Moda Center • Portland rallies in the fourth in the kind of game they'll need to win if they're to make a run after the All-Star break • The team will have to make a decision soon about two-way players Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko • Bad to the Bone at Spirit Mountain • Portland goes ham in the third quarter to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers Monday night at Moda Center to finish off a five-game homestand with three-straight wins • Deni Avdija returns to the lineup versus the Sixers and looks like his old self • Monday's win being the first game this season where Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III and Scoot Henderson all played • Toumani Camara might be the biggest beneficiary of injured players returning after posting career highs in scoring and three-pointers made in the win versus the 76ers • The Blazers are as healthy as they've been this season, they're rested and have something to play for. Can they go on a run after the All-Star break? • Damian Lillard signs on to compete in the 2026 Three-Point Contest Saturday (afternoon) at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles • Dame joins Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen at All-Star Weekend • All-Star Saturday and Sunday starting in the afternoon rather than the evening due to the Winter Olympics

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Deni Avdija being named to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game for the first time in his career • Needing to do a little bit extra in order to make your first All-Star roster • The Trail Blazers having at least three players at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend between Avdija, Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen • The Trail Blazers trading for 6-8 guard/forward Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Duop Reath and two second-round picks • Krejci providing three-point shooting and playmaking, two things the Trail Blazers desperately need • Bidding a fond farewell to Duop Reath, one of the best people you'll find in the NBA or otherwise • Portland's losing streak extending to five games with a loss to the Cavaliers at Moda Center on Sunday • Blake Wesley returning to the lineup Sunday after missing the last few months with a broken foot • Scoot Henderson also getting close to making his debut after missing the first part of the season with a hamstring injury

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers starting an all Moda Center back-to-back with a rare victory versus the Miami Heat in Portland • Portland finishing up a stretch of playing eight of 10 games at home with a tough start and a tough finish in a loss to the Toronto Raptors Friday night • Heading out for a three-game Eastern Conference road trip with stops in Boston, Washington, DC and New York City • The snow is falling as the east coast braces for a winter storm and how that might impact the Trail Blazers • A conversation with Trail Blazers guard/forward Sidy Cissoko after practice at Boston University on Sunday about how the team is playing, particularly since the start of 2026, gaining experience through the course of the season, wanting to play 110 percent, the job of a two-way player, where he’s improved the most this season, trying to be more like Toumani Camara, starting as a two-way, team chemistry, having an international locker room, playing with an attitude, coming up on the 50-game limit as a two-way player, wanting to get the Trail Blazers back to the playoffs and the proper pronunciation of “Sidy Cissoko.”

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers blowing out LeBron James and the Lakers at Moda Center on Saturday to begin a weekend back-to-back • Following up the win versus the Lakers on Saturday with another versus the Kings in Sacramento on Sunday • The Trail Blazers have won the 2025-26 season series versus three of the four California teams • Deni Avdija makes a well-timed return with Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant and Robert Williams III all sitting out the second night of a back-to-back • Deni Avdija finishing fifth in fan voting but ending up seventh in the total vote for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Western Conference starters • Deni Avdija passing Victor Wembenyama and Anthony Edwards in the final fan voter tally and getting more votes in the last week than a lot of players got over the entire voting period •Fingers crossed that Deni Avdija is announced as an All-Star reserve, which is decided by coaches vote • With yet another new format this year, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how the teams will be put together at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers just not having the bodies to compete with the Warriors Tuesday night in San Francisco • Jrue Holiday's return after missing two months seems to be going well • Portland gets a huge boost from their bench in Thursday's win versus the Hawks • One of the few positives about having so many injured players • Jerami Grant returns to the lineup after missing a month with Achilles soreness • Deni Avdija seems to be improving after missing the last two games with a back injury • Yang Hansen is assigned to the Rip City Remix for the second time this week

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers following up a win versus the Rockets on Wednesday at Moda Center with another on Friday in the rematch, also at Moda Center • Toumani Camara responds to losing a tooth by posting a career-high in scoring • Clutch free throws, a perfect night shooting from Sidy Cissoko and Duop Reath always staying ready helps Portland secure the second-straight win versus Houston • Deni Avdija's comments after the victory regarding how the way he plays and how that effects the way he's officiated • Portland having a five-game winning streak and a four-game homestand ended with a loss to the New York Knicks Sunday afternoon • The Trail Blazers running out of rallies versus the Knicks • Deni Avdija leaving Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with an apparent back injury • Jrue Holiday returning to the lineup in Sunday's game after missing the last two months with a calf strain • How Jrue feels the day AFTER the game being more important than how he felt DURING the game • Jrue Holiday being on a minutes restriction and how that would be impacted by whether or not Deni Avdija misses any time due to injury • Portland facing the Warriors in San Francisco on Tuesday before returning to Moda Center to host the Hawks and Lakers

Send us a text On the latest edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers getting their fourth-straight victory with a gutsy win versus the Rockets Wednesday night at Moda Center • Deni Avdija posting season-high in scoring versus the Rockets • Toumani Camara proves his toughness once again • A lowkey encouraging performance from Yang Hansen • Thoughts on the rematch versus the Rockets on Friday • The upcoming schedule and whether the Blazers can get back to .500 by the end of the month • Deni Avdija remains seventh in All-Star fan voting with one week to go • Donovan Clingan (and maybe Caleb Love?) should be included in... whatever the Rising Stars Challenge looks like this year

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers losing the first three games of a five-game homestand • Portland defeating the Celtics in the fourth game of the five-game homestand to get their first win versus Boston in the last three seasons • The Trail Blazers doing a good job of controlling what they can control in the second half versus the Celtics • Portland finishing out their holiday homestand with a harrowing victory versus the Dallas Mavericks Monday night • Deni Avdija's near triple-double • When Caleb Love plays well, the Trail Blazers' chances of winning seem to improve considerably • Deni Avdija coming in seventh in Western Conference All-Star fan voting in the first round of returns released Monday