In Phoenix on Tuesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers ripped out the Suns’ hearts and stole their playoff spot, storming back for a 114-110 win in the play-in to clinch their first postseason berth since 2021. Deni Avdija lit up the desert with a 41-point masterpiece that sent Rip City straight into the NBA playoffs.
The Blazers looked cooked in the fourth, down 11 before clawing back and setting up a wild final minute, according to AP. Jordan Goodwin briefly pushed Phoenix ahead with 32 seconds left, only for Avdija to answer with a bruising drive, draw contact, and finish off a go-ahead three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining that put Portland up 112-110.
Phoenix still had life, but Jalen Green’s last-chance three missed, and Matisse Thybulle ripped away the rebound to seal it. Just like that, the Suns were left staring at the play-in loser bracket while Portland started thinking about San Antonio.
Avdija Fills Up the Box Score
The numbers behind Avdija’s takeover only underline how dominant he was. ESPN’s box score shows he went 15-for-22 from the field and 8-for-13 at the line, piling up 41 points along with 12 assists and seven rebounds in 38 minutes. Jrue Holiday backed him with 21 points as Portland leaned on its veterans when the game tightened.
On the other side, Green poured in 35 points and Devin Booker added 22, but Phoenix could not cash in late. The misses stung even more in front of the home crowd at Mortgage Matchup Center in downtown Phoenix, where it briefly looked like the Suns had the game under control before Portland’s surge.
What It Means for Rip City
The win locks Portland into the No. 7 seed and a first-round date with the San Antonio Spurs, per AP, and marks the Blazers’ first trip back to the playoffs since 2021, as reported by KOIN. Phoenix, meanwhile, has to regroup quickly for a loser-bracket play-in matchup later this week.
The NBA playoffs officially open April 18, and Portland will not have much time to soak this in before turning fully to Spurs prep, according to ESPN. Rip City will hope Avdija’s outburst, along with steady contributions from Holiday, Donovan Clingan and the rest of the rotation, can carry over into a longer postseason run and not just remain an unforgettable one-night heist in the Valley.
