Avdija sends Blazers through
Deni Avdija poured in 41 points to lift the Portland Trail Blazers past the Phoenix Suns, delivering a late and‑1 layup that proved to be the winner ( ). Jalen Green missed a potential answering 3 on the final possession, sealing Portland’s spot in the playoffs from the West play‑in (sports.yahoo.com).
Portland is back in the National Basketball Association playoffs after Deni Avdija carried the Trail Blazers past Phoenix 114-110 in Tuesday night’s Western Conference play-in game. (nba.com, apnews.com) Avdija scored 41 points and finished the game with 12 assists and seven rebounds in his postseason debut. His go-ahead three-point play came with 16.1 seconds left after Portland erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. (sports.yahoo.com, apnews.com) Phoenix had one last chance, but Jalen Green missed a potential tying three-pointer on the final possession. Green scored 35 points for the Suns, while Devin Booker added 22 in the loss. (sports.yahoo.com, espn.com) The win gave Portland the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and set a first-round series against the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs. Phoenix stayed alive in the play-in and dropped into the do-or-die game for the West’s final playoff spot. (sports.yahoo.com, nba.com) This was Portland’s first playoff berth since 2021, ending a four-year wait after a 42-40 regular season. The Suns entered at 45-37 and had home court, but could not hold the late lead. (oregonlive.com, espn.com) The play-in format sends the No. 7 versus No. 8 winner straight into the playoffs and forces the loser into one more elimination game. Tuesday’s result meant Portland advanced immediately, while Phoenix had to keep playing to stay alive. (nba.com, nba.com) Avdija’s night extended a breakout season that had already earned him his first All-Star selection, according to ESPN. Against Phoenix, he shot 15 for 22 from the field and delivered the biggest basket of Portland’s season at the end. (espn.com, sports.yahoo.com) By the final buzzer, the Trail Blazers had turned an 11-point hole into a playoff berth, and Avdija had turned his first National Basketball Association postseason game into Portland’s clearest path forward. (apnews.com, nba.com)
