Avdija scores 33 in latest outburst as Trail Blazers blow out Jazz, 137-117

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Deni Avdija had 33 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in three quarters, falling just short of his second consecutive triple-double, and the Portland Trail Blazers routed the Utah Jazz 137-117 on Monday night.

Shaedon Sharpe scored 29 for the Trail Blazers (17-20), who have won three straight games and five of six. Donovan Clingan pulled down 17 rebounds to go with 12 points.

Avdija, the reigning Western Conference player of the week, played nearly 29 minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter as Portland nursed a comfortable lead. The 6-foot-8 forward from Israel had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on his 25th birthday Saturday night in a 115-110 victory at San Antonio.

Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points for the Jazz (12-23), and Jusuf Nurkic had 21 points and 12 boards after missing two games with a sprained toe on his left foot. Utah has dropped four in a row and eight of 10.

Portland shot 53% from the floor, including 19 for 48 (40%) from 3-point distance, and missed only one of its 21 free throws. Sharpe hit five 3s and Avdija drained four. Sharpe also had seven assists and five rebounds.

Seven players scored in double figures for the Blazers, including all five starters. Toumani Camara had 15 points, while Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko added 14 apiece off the bench. Kris Murray finished with 10.

Portland led 78-57 at halftime and 114-83 after three quarters.

Jazz: Visit the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder to wrap up a four-game trip Wednesday night.

Trail Blazers: Host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in the opener of a two-game series.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) shouts directions to teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Molly J. Smith)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Caleb Love dribbles downccourt during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Molly J. Smith)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, left, prepares to shoot a 3-point basket past Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Molly J. Smith)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) is fouled by Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Molly J. Smith)

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) grabs control of the ball over Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Molly J. Smith)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran's army chief threatened preemptive military action Wednesday over the “rhetoric” targeting the Islamic Republic, likely referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” America “will come to their rescue."

The comments by Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami come as Iran tries to respond to what it sees as a dual threat posed by Israel and the United States, as well as the protests sparked by its economic woes that have grown into a direct challenge to its theocracy.

Seeking to halt the anger, Iran's government began Wednesday paying the equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize rising costs for dinner-table essentials like rice, meat and pastas. Shopkeepers warn prices for items as basic as cooking oil likely will triple under pressure from the collapse of Iran's rial currency and the end of a preferential subsidized dollar-rial exchange rate for importers and manufacturers — likely fueling further popular anger.

“More than a week of protests in Iran reflects not only worsening economic conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies that have led to Iran’s global isolation,” the New York-based Soufan Center think tank said.

Hatami spoke to military academy students. He took over as commander-in-chief of the Iran's army, known by the Farsi word "Artesh," after Israel killed a slew of the country's top military commanders in June's 12-day war. He is the first regular military officer in decades to hold a position long controlled by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

“The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response," Hatami said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

He added, “I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor.”

Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been responding to Trump's comments, which took on more significance after the U.S. military raid that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran, over the weekend. But there's been no immediate public sign of Iran preparing for an attack in the region.

Iranian state television reported on the start of a new subsidy of the equivalent of $7, put into the bank accounts of heads of households across the country. More than 71 million people will receive the benefit, which is 10 million Iranian rials, it reported. The rial now trades at over 1.4 million to $1 and continues to depreciate.

The subsidy is more than double than the 4.5 million rial people previously received. But already, Iranian media report sharp rises in the cost of basic goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese, placing additional strain on households already burdened by international sanctions targeting the country and inflation.

Iran's vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, told reporters Wednesday that the country was in a “full-fledged economic war.” He called for “economic surgery” to eliminate rentier policies and corruption within the country.

Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after the June war with Israel, its rial currency sharply fell in December. Protests began soon after on Dec. 28. They reached their 11th day on Wednesday and did not appear to be stopping.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest death toll of 36 for the demonstrations. It said 30 protesters, four children and two members of Iran’s security forces have been killed. Demonstrations have reached over 280 locations in 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces.

The group, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting, has been accurate in past unrest.

In this photograph released on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, by the official website of the Iranian Army, Iran's army chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami speaks to military academy students, in Tehran, Iran. (Masoud Nazari Mehrabi/Iranian Army via AP)

In this photograph released on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, by the official website of the Iranian Army, Iran's army chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami speaks to military academy students, in Tehran, Iran. (Masoud Nazari Mehrabi/Iranian Army via AP)