Deni Avdija Drops 41 Points to Clinch Blazers' No. 7 Seed in Play-In Win

Deni Avdija delivered a historic postseason debut, scoring 41 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-110 comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns. The first-time All-Star shot 15-of-22 from the field, adding 12 assists, seven rebounds, and two blocks in 38 minutes. Avdija hit a go-ahead 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left and a physical layup to erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit, clinching the No. 7 seed and Portland's first playoff berth since 2021.