The Portland Trail Blazers punched their ticket to the Western Conference playoffs in dramatic fashion Tuesday night, rallying from a late deficit behind a sensational performance from Deni Avdija to defeat the Phoenix Suns 114–110 in the NBA Play-In Tournament’s 7th-vs.-8th matchup. The victory secures Portland the No. 7 seed and sets up a first-round clash with the San Antonio Spurs.
Avdija turned in one of the biggest performances of his career, scoring 41 points and delivering the game’s decisive play with just 16.1 seconds remaining. After Phoenix briefly reclaimed the lead at 110–109 on a driving layup by Jordan Goodwin with 32 seconds left, Avdija responded immediately.
The forward attacked the basket through contact, finished a tough layup, and converted the free throw to complete a go-ahead three-point play that put Portland ahead 112–110. It capped a clutch stretch that showcased his poise and physicality under postseason pressure.
Portland’s comeback made the win even more impressive. The Trail Blazers trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter before tightening defensively and leaning on Avdija’s scoring burst to swing momentum.
Phoenix had one final opportunity to respond, but Jalen Green misfired on a late three-point attempt. Goodwin secured the offensive rebound to give the Suns another chance, only for Matisse Thybulle to strip the ball away in the closing seconds, sealing Portland’s victory and igniting celebrations on the Blazers’ bench.
With the win, Portland locks in the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and advances to face San Antonio in the opening round of the playoffs—an intriguing matchup featuring rising young talent on both sides.
Phoenix, meanwhile, still has one path remaining. The Suns will host the winner of the play-in matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors on Friday. The winner of that contest will claim the No. 8 seed and move on to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, while the loser’s season will come to an end.
For Portland, though, the night belonged to Avdija—whose 41-point masterpiece powered a gritty comeback and ensured the Trail Blazers are heading to the playoffs with momentum and confidence.
