Avdija’s 41 lifts Portland
Portland clinched a Western Conference playoff spot with a road win that sealed the No. 7 seed, driven by Deni Avdija’s 41‑point outburst. ( )
Deni Avdija scored 41 points Tuesday night and sent Portland back to the playoffs with a 114-110 win at Phoenix. (nba.com, sports.yahoo.com) The win in the Western Conference 7-versus-8 play-in game gave the Trail Blazers the No. 7 seed and a first-round series against the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs. Portland erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in the road victory. (nba.com, nba.com) Avdija did more than score. He finished with 12 assists and seven rebounds, shot 15 for 22 from the field, and converted a go-ahead three-point play with 16.1 seconds left. (nba.com, usatoday.com) Phoenix entered the night as the No. 7 seed and had the home floor at Mortgage Matchup Center, but it now drops into the final play-in game for the West’s last playoff berth. Jalen Green scored 35 points for the Suns in the loss. (nba.com, sports.yahoo.com) For Portland, the result ends a postseason drought that stretched back to 2021. The club had already secured its first post-season appearance since 2021 by reaching the play-in, and Tuesday’s comeback pushed it through to the full playoff bracket. (nba.com, katu.com) The game also capped Avdija’s first postseason appearance with the biggest scoring night of his National Basketball Association career. Associated Press coverage described him as a first-time All-Star coming off a breakout regular season. (wtop.com, newsday.com) Portland’s next game is Sunday, April 19, when the best-of-seven first round opens in San Antonio. After one night in Phoenix, the Blazers went from play-in danger to a playoff series. (sports.yahoo.com, nba.com)
