Deni Avdija 34 points vs Pelicans (Jan 2, 2026): 2nd-best of 35 games
34 PTS · 10-of-19 FG · 3-of-5 3P · 11-of-14 FT · 38:24 MIN
Usual before this game: 25.3 PTS · 16.5 FGA · 35.2 MIN, from 34 regular-season games
2nd-best Game Score of 35 games this season: 32.6 against a usual 19.5 (+13.1)
above usual
No more than 5 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about 2 to 4 times a season.
How the score worksWhy did Deni Avdija score 34 points?
Deni Avdija scored 34 points against the Pelicans on Jan 2, 2026 in 38:24: 10-of-19 from the field (52.6%), 3-of-5 from three (60.0%), 11-of-14 on free throws (78.6%). Coming in, Avdija had averaged 25.3 points on 16.5 shots in 35.2 minutes, from 34 regular-season games. This game had the 2nd-best Game Score of 35 games this season. The rate from the field was 52.6%, against a usual 46.6%. By shot type: free throws 11 points (usual 7.6); two-pointers 14 points (usual 10.9); threes 9 points (usual 6.8). Minutes: 38:24, against a usual 35.2; Game Score per 36 minutes: 30.6, against a usual 20.0. Assists: 11, against a usual 6.9. The Trail Blazers won 122-109 at the Pelicans. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
Avdija in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (34 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 38:24 | 35.2 | +3.2 |
| Points | 34 | 25.3 | +8.7 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 19 · 52.6% | 16.5 · 46.6% | +2.5 · +6.0 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 5 · 60.0% | 6.4 · 35.3% | -1.4 · +24.7 |
| FTA · FT% | 14 · 78.6% | 9.6 · 79.3% | +4.4 · -0.7 |
| Rebounds | 7 | 7.2 | -0.2 |
| Assists | 11 | 6.9 | +4.1 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4.0 | -2.0 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 34 games | 29.7 | 28.5 | +1.2 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 30.6 | 20.0 | +10.6 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (34 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 9 (3-of-5) | 6.8 (2.3-of-6.4) | +2.2 |
| Twos | 14 (7-of-14) | 10.9 (5.4-of-10.1) | +3.1 |
| Free throws | 11 (11-of-14) | 7.6 (7.6-of-9.6) | +3.4 |
| Total | 34 | 25.3 | +8.7 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
32.6 against a usual 19.5 (+13.1)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +7.5 |
| Rebounds | +0.8 |
| Assists | +2.9 |
| Steals and blocks | +0.4 |
| Turnovers and fouls | +1.5 |
| Total | +13.1 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
2nd-best Game Score of 35 games this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Trail Blazers won 122-109 at the Pelicans.
- Previous appearance: Dec 31, 2025, 2 days earlier.
- Earlier regular-season meetings with the Pelicans this season: 32 points (Nov 12, 2025), 16 points (Dec 11, 2025).
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.