The Brief Case

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

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 beating the Kings in overtime Thursday night at Moda Center • You've got to learn how to win "ugly" games in the NBA • Facing the Kings again Saturday night, this time in Sacramento • The 1999-2000 Trail Blazers roster returning to Moda Center for a reunion at Monday's game versus the Pistons • Celebrating that team that came a quarter short from a trip to the NBA Finals has been a long time coming • The team putting a renewed emphasis on welcoming back former players and coaches • All-Star voting is open and you should stuff the ballot box for Deni Avdija, who is putting up numbers this season that only Luka, Jokic and Giannis are hitting

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 losing to the Pelicans in New Orleans Thursday night in a "NBA Cup Consolation Bracket" game • The Trail Blazers having just 10 players -- eight on NBA contracts and three on two-way contracts -- in uniform on Thursday, with none of those players being taller than 6-9 • Hosting the Warriors on Sunday -- it's Damian Lillard collectable glass night! -- and then having three days off before a home-and-road series versus the Kings • There's no point in trying to predict when players will return from injury, though hopefully that will be the case with so many off days coming up • Deni Avdija being named to ESPN's "Top 25 Players Under The Age of 25" list

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 going down, coming back, but then losing down the stretch to the Pistons in Detroit on Friday night • Portland finishing up a four-game trip with a 119-96 loss to the Grizzlies in Memphis • The Trail Blazers having time to rest and recuperate with only two games over the next 10 days • Yang Hansen being assigned to the Remix on Wednesday night and then posting 20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks and 2 steals in a 135-128 overtime loss to the San Diego Clippers Thursday night at Chiles Center • Hansen being recalled by the Trail Blazers and starting versus the Grizzlies in Memphis with both Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III out • The tricky balance of knowing when to assign Hansen to the Remix and when they'll need him to play for the Trail Blazers • The Remix hosting two games this week versus the Salt Lake City Stars, heading to LA to play one game versus the South Bay Lakers and then returning to Portland to host two games versus the Stockton Kings

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 off yet another four-game road trip with a loss to the Raptors in Toronto • Portland dooming their chances yet again due to poor free throw shooting • The Trail Blazers bouncing back to defeat the Cavaliers in Cleveland on the second night of a back-to-back • Portland winning in Cleveland in large part thanks to free throw shooting • Deni Avdija gets to the line and continues his run as one of the NBA's best players this season • Shaedon Sharpe becomes the youngest player in franchise history to put up 3,000 points • Yang Hansen is assigned to the Remix, who started their home schedule on Tuesday and play again on Thursday at Chiles Center on the campus of University of Portland

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 having their NBA Cup dreams dashed with a loss to the San Antonio Spurs in West Group C play on Thanksgiving eve • You can miss three-pointers or miss free throws, but if you're the 2025-26 Trail Blazers, you can't miss both • Portland using some down time during the holiday weekend to get in their first real practices since the start of the regular season • The Trail Blazers can't hold on in the fourth quarter versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, though their improved play is cause for optimism • Deni Avdija playing out of position at point guard on offense and center on defense • Deni gets his second triple-double of the season, making him one of the few players in do so this season • Avdija doing something that only Clyde Drexler and Damian Lillard have done in Trail Blazers' franchise history • International or domestic, at this point, Deni Avdija has to be a Western Conference All-Star • A conversation with Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III regarding his season so far, how Portland's new style of play fits his style of play, enjoying the grind of rehab, offering council to teammates dealing with injuries, slowing down (but in a good way) and the rarity of playing for a head coach who was also a center

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 returning from a five-game trip to play an all Moda Center back-to-back • Losing to the Suns on Tuesday in the first game back from a long trip • Rallying to take the lead only to lose to the Bulls on yet another buzzer-beating three in the second night of a back-to-back • Portland down to 10 players, including three two-way players, Wednesday night • Three-point defense and free throw shooting making it hard shorthanded • Deni Avdija posts his third triple-double, all of which have come during his time with the Trail Blazers • Jerami Grant shaking off an illness to post 33 points versus the Bulls • Donovan Clingan posting a career high in rebounds and Portland's ridiculous rebounding numbers versus Chicago • Needing a win on the upcoming three-game road trip • The play of rookie center Yang Hansen since his return from an assignment with the Rip City Remix • Hansen going through what all rookie centers go through

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 a five-game trip with a close loss to the Heat in Miami on Saturday • Going scoreless at the worst possible time • Both Jrue Holiday and Deni Avdija come close to triple-doubles in Miami • Trail Blazers stick around in Orlando versus the Magic but end up getting beaten at the buzzer by a Desmond Bane three • Portland overcoming a tough night on the boards and a lack of flow on offense for the first three quarters • The Blazers once again staying resilient long enough for the game to turn in their favor • Did Tiago Splitter remember the alley-oop play that gave Portland the lead from when the Blazers ran it for a win versus Tiago when he was a rookie versus the Spurs? • The irony of the Magic shooting poorly from three all game only to finish with a buzzer-beating three and the Trail Blazers turning the ball over just three times in the first three quarters only to be undone by a late-game turnover • Shaedon Sharpe having his best game of the season while looking like a go-to option in the fourth quarter • Finishing the trip with the Pelicans in New Orleans on Wednesday, the Rockets in Houston (in an NBA Cup Group C game) Friday in Houston and Sunday versus the Mavericks in Dallas (and on both KATU and KUNP)

Send us a text On this edition of The Brief Case, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The disappointing loss to a shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers team on Monday • Which team is the Trail Blazers: the team that beat the Nuggets or lost to the Lakers? • Bouncing back from being down 21 points in the first quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champs and a team that entered Wednesday's game unbeated • The play of Deni Avdija, Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant and Duop Reath in the win versus OKC • Duop staying ready and delivering when called upon • The gratification of breaking a 16-game losing streak and besting at team that thought they could rest rotation players and still win • Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley each have surgery and reaching the five-week mark of Scoot Henderson's initial four to eight week rehabilitation • A conversation with Rip City Remix head coach Jonah Herscu as they begin their season on Friday in Santa Cruz • Yang Hansen being assigned to the Remix for practices and why that might be

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 Portland Trail Blazers going 3-2 in the first week of the 2025-26 regular season • The early season play of Jerami Grant, Deni Avdija and Jrue Holiday • The Trail Blazers doing all the things in the first five games that they said they were going to do during training camp and preseason • Enduring the highs and lows of a new style of play • Portland finishing the first week first in steals, second in pace, third in shot attempts, fourth in three-point attempts, sixth in defensive rating and eighth in offensive rebounds • Jerami Grant putting up historic early-season numbers off the bench • Getting bested by the LA Clippers due to a difficult second half • Bouncing back to defeat a shorthanded Lakers team going away • Donovan Clingan having his best game of the season versus his "vet" Deandre Ayton • Getting up big versus the Jazz before having to grind out a win in the fourth quarter (thanks in large part to Jrue Holiday) • The NBA Cup group stage begins on Friday versus the Denver Nuggets at Moda Center • Robert Williams III is upgraded to questionable