Avdija's 41 points push Trail Blazers past Suns into playoffs

Deni Avdija scored 41 points to lead Portland to a crucial play-in win over Phoenix, securing the seventh seed.

Blazers overcome late Suns surge Deni Avdija delivered a career-high 41 points as the Portland Trail Blazers erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 114-110 in the NBA play-in tournament on Tuesday night. The victory relied on Avdija's clutch play late in the game, including a go-ahead three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining that shifted momentum firmly in Portland's favor. ## Critical final minutes decided playoff fate With the score tight in the final half-minute, Jordan Goodwin drove to the rim for a layup, putting Phoenix ahead 110-109 with 32 seconds left. Avdija immediately answered with a powerful layup while drawing contact, followed by converting the free throw to put Portland up 112-110. Goodwin later had a chance to regain the lead for Phoenix, but Jalen Green's three-point attempt clanked off the rim. Goodwin then fought for an offensive rebound, only for Matisse Thybulle to strip the ball away, sealing the win for the Blazers. ## Playoff seeding finalized for both teams Portland secured the Western Conference's seventh seed and will open their playoff run against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Meanwhile, Phoenix earned a spot in the eighth seed play-in matchup, where they will host the winner of the Clippers-Warriors game on Friday. That victor will advance to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, while the loser’s season concludes immediately after that contest.