Avdija, Brooks Exchange Heats Up in Blazers Win
Portland improved to 6-1 with a 132-119 win over Phoenix, and the rivalry tension from Monday's Green clash carried into Wednesday night.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
Trail Blazers fans watched Deni Avdija's heated exchange with Dillon Brooks spill over during Portland's 132-119 win over the Suns on Wednesday night. The moment came at the free throw line and drew referees and coaches in to separate the two players.
Why it matters
For Portlanders following the team, the incident adds a physical and verbal edge to a Suns matchup that has already turned testy this week. Brooks and Phoenix had a confrontation with Draymond Green in Monday's 116-113 loss, so the flare-up raises questions about how the rivalry will play out when these teams meet again.
Portland's 6-1 start and third straight win stand against Phoenix's 1-6 record and a second straight loss. Avdija's 21-point, 12-rebound, seven-assist line came on 7-for-16 shooting, while Brooks added 15 points, though no league action has been reported.
The players
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland NBA team that defeated Phoenix 132-119 and improved to 6-1 on the season.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix NBA team that fell to 1-6 after its loss to Portland.
Deni Avdija
Trail Blazers forward who finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and was involved in the exchange with Brooks.
Dillon Brooks
Suns forward who finished with 15 points and was involved in exchanges with both Avdija and Damian Lillard.
Damian Lillard
Trail Blazers guard who was involved in a heated exchange with Brooks in which Brooks stepped toward his Achilles area.
The details
Avdija directed an expletive-filled remark at Brooks at the free throw line during Wednesday's game, and referees and Trail Blazers coaches stepped in to separate Brooks and Lillard after a separate heated moment. Earlier in the same game, Brooks was called for stepping out of bounds while pump-faking against Lillard, and he extended his foot toward Lillard's Achilles area while attempting a three-pointer. Video of the exchange was shared on X by Griffin S. DeMarrais of azfamily 3TV CBS 5.
Timeline
Monday: Brooks confronted Draymond Green in the Suns' 116-113 loss to the Warriors.
Wednesday night: Trail Blazers beat the Suns 132-119, and the Avdija-Brooks exchange occurred during the game.
Beyond the Bridges
Brooks's Monday confrontation with Draymond Green in the Suns' loss set up Wednesday's flare-up with Avdija and Lillard. Together the two games make a week of heated moments for a Phoenix team now sitting at 1-6.
If you're heading to the Moda Center for the next Blazers home game, expect the rivalry with Phoenix to be part of the atmosphere. Keep an eye on whether the league weighs in on the exchanges, since any discipline could affect who is available for upcoming games.
The takeaway
The Avdija-Brooks exchange is a reminder that this Portland-Phoenix rivalry is running hot right now, with a second on-court flare-up in the same week. Watch for any league response in the coming days, since it will shape how both teams approach their next meeting.
Further reading
For more on how the Trail Blazers are shaping up this season, see our Basketball coverage.
