By Eurohoops / info@eurohoops.net
The Portland Trail Blazers are back in the postseason after five years, and they got there riding a spectacular performance from Deni Avdija. Portland edged the Phoenix Suns 110–114 in Arizona to secure the 7th seed in the West and set up a tough first-round clash with the San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama.
Phoenix, meanwhile, will get one more chance on Friday, hosting the winner of the clash between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. Whoever grabs the 8th seed will have barely any time to recover before facing the powerful Oklahoma City Thunder.
Under coach Tiago Splitter, the Blazers have built a competitive identity despite injuries, roster imbalance, and midseason instability. Veterans like Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant have provided stability, while young players such as Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan continue to develop. But when everything tightens, the team now clearly belongs to Avdija.
The forward delivered a masterpiece: 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists, controlling the game when it mattered most. When Portland’s offense stalled in the second half, he simply became the offense. In crunch time, he dominated—attacking the paint, creating shots, and scoring a crucial and-one that effectively sealed the game.
The game itself swung wildly. Portland built a solid lead early (41–55), only to see it disappear as Phoenix surged from 66–77 to 100–89 late in the fourth quarter. The Blazers’ hot shooting from deep in the first half vanished after the break, and the Suns capitalized with energy lineups featuring players like Royce O’Neale and Collin Gillespie.
Still, when the moment of truth arrived, Phoenix faltered. Jalen Green scored 35 but missed the potential game-winning three. Booker, who started strong, faded badly and never imposed himself on the game. The Suns also paid the price at the free-throw line, missing key attempts in a game decided in the final seconds.
Avdija’s all-around brilliance ultimately defined the night, dragging Portland through chaos and into the playoffs with authority.
In the East, the Charlotte Hornets took another step toward the playoffs with a dramatic 127–126 overtime win over the Miami Heat. They will now face the loser of Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic for the 8th seed. Led by LaMelo Ball, who finished with 30 points and 10 assists, the Hornets showed both brilliance and chaos in a game that swung constantly and never saw a lead larger than eight points.
The ending was pure madness. Ball hit the decisive basket after nearly costing his team with late mistakes, and Miles Bridges sealed the win with a crucial block on Davion Mitchell in the final seconds.
Miami, missing Bam Adebayo after an early injury, still had chances. Strong performances from Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Herro weren’t enough, as rebounding proved decisive—Charlotte dominated the offensive glass and generated extra possessions that ultimately made the difference.