A Brutal Collision and a Broken Smile: The De’Aaron Fox Incident
The NBA playoffs are known for their intensity, but Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers took “physicality” to a whole new level. In a moment that quickly went viral, Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox accidentally left Deni Avdija with more than just a loss on the scoreboard.
Late in the second quarter, a chaotic drive led to a collision where Fox’s elbow connected directly with Avdija’s mouth. The impact was severe enough to chip a portion of Avdija’s incisor, leaving the Blazers star with what fans are calling a “hockey smile.”
The Most Unfortunate Foul Call in NBA History?
If losing a piece of a tooth wasn’t enough, the sequence of events that followed was a nightmare for Avdija. Here is how the madness unfolded:
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- The Initial Call: Referees first called an offensive foul on De’Aaron Fox.
- The Escalation: Fox, incensed by the whistle, reacted aggressively and was slapped with a technical foul.
- The Twist: The Spurs challenged the original call. After review, the refs overturned the decision, ruling it a blocking foul on Avdija.
In a rare and cruel turn of events, Deni Avdija ended the play having lost half a tooth and being charged with a foul. The only silver lining? He still got to shoot the free throw from Fox’s technical foul, which remained valid despite the overturn.
Spurs Dominate Despite Wembanyama’s Absence
While the drama with De’Aaron Fox captured the headlines, the San Antonio Spurs focused on the win. Despite missing the Defensive Player of the Year, Victor Wembanyama (out with a concussion), the Spurs secured a 120-108 victory.
The win was fueled by stellar performances from the youth movement:
- Stephon Castle: A powerhouse performance with 33 points.
- Dylan Harper: Provided a massive spark off the bench with 27 points.
What’s Next for the Blazers and Avdija?
The Spurs now hold a 2-1 lead in the series, leaving Portland in a precarious position. For Deni Avdija, this season has been a career-defining breakout, leading the Blazers in scoring and hitting new personal milestones across the board. However, before he can lead his team to a comeback, he’ll likely need a visit to the dentist to fix the damage caused by the clash.
Stay tuned to ESPN NBA for the latest updates on the series and player injury reports.
