Field Level Media
15 Apr 2026, 10:55 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Deni Avdija scored 41 points, and his three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining capped the Portland Trail Blazers' comeback from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 114-110 victory over the host Phoenix Suns in a play-in game Tuesday.
The Trail Blazers ended a four-year playoff drought and will open a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series against the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
The Suns will have another chance to make the playoffs on Friday, when they will host the winner of the Wednesday play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
That winner of the Friday contest will be the No. 8 seed and will meet the defending league champion and No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder in the first game of a seven-game set on Sunday.
Jordan Goodwin sank a reserve layup with 32.5 seconds left to put the Suns up 110-109, but he missed a free throw after being fouled on the play. The Blazers rebounded and called timeout to set up Avdija's drive through the lane.
Phoenix's Jalen Green missed a 3-point attempt with six seconds remaining. On the rebound, Portland's Matisse Thybulle stole the ball from Goodwin and found Jerami Grant alone for a dunk with six-tenths of a second remaining.
Avdija had 14 points in the fourth quarter, and he finished with 12 assists and seven rebounds.
Jrue Holiday added 21 points and Grant had 16, including two late 3-pointers as the Blazers finished the game on a 17-5 run.
Green scored 35 points, Devin Booker had 22 and Dillon Brooks added 20 for the Suns.
The Suns trailed 83-82 entering the fourth quarter but scored the first 11 points for an 10-point edge, extending a longer 24-4 run that began after Avdija made a layup to give the Blazers a 79-69 lead midway through the third quarter.
Holiday and Avdija hit 3-pointers as the Blazers closed the deficit to 100-97 with 4:15 left before Donovan Clingan was called for a flagrant-1 foul for pulling Brooks down on Avdija's make.
Grant made a 3-pointer and Shaedon Sharpe hit two free throws with 2:29 left, bringing the Trail Blazers within 105-104 with 2:29 left.
Grant's next trey put the Blazers in front 107-106 before Booker's free throws gave the Suns a 108-107 lead with 1:34 to go. After a Portland turnover and a Booker miss, Avdija hit a driving lap for a 109-108 lead with 37.3 seconds remaining prior to Goodwin's layup.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Arizona Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arizona Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: Rising energy costs linked to the Iran war pushed U.S. wholesale prices sharply higher in March, adding to inflation...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks continued their march higher on Tuesday, buoyed by prospects the U.S. and Iran may soon return to...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The global economy is entering a period of heightened risk as the war in Iran disrupts energy markets, with the International...
LONDON, U.K.: Tesco is stepping up its digital transformation by partnering with U.S. software firm Adobe to harness artificial intelligence...
DETROIT, Michigan: Electric vehicle startup Slate Auto has secured US$650 million in fresh funding as it prepares to bring its first...
SAN FRANCISCO, U.S.: OpenAI said it had addressed a security issue linked to a third-party developer tool, adding that there was no...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: U.S. lawmakers are calling for investigations into prediction market platform Polymarket after a series of...
(Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images) Deni Avdija scored 41 points, and his three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining capped...
(Photo credit: John Jones-Imagn Images) Ildemaro Vargas hit a three-run homer and Merrill Kelly pitched into the sixth inning in...
(Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz will be in the dugout for Tuesday's game against...
(Photo credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images) Baseball's best team will encounter one of the game's hottest young pitchers when...
(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images) The Baltimore Orioles reached new heights this season with a late-inning comeback on Monday...
