Avdija Makes Play-In History: “He’s a Superstar!”
A fourth-quarter comeback from 11 down and a superstar performance from Deni Avdija send the Portland Trail Blazers into the playoffs
The Portland Trail Blazers secured the No. 7 seed in the West after a stunning comeback against the Phoenix Suns, winning 114-110 in the play-in. The unquestioned star was Deni Avdija, who exploded for 41 points and delivered the decisive play late.
The game came alive in the final possessions. After the Suns took the lead on a basket by Jordan Goodwin, Avdija answered with a powerful drive: bucket, foul, and the free throw to complete the three-point play for a 112-110 lead with 16.1 seconds remaining.
Phoenix had one last chance, but Jalen Green missed from three. On the offensive rebound, Goodwin was denied by a game-saving defensive play from Matisse Thybulle, sealing the win.
The Comeback: From Down 11 in the Fourth to Victory
The Blazers flipped a game that appeared to be slipping away. Early in the fourth quarter, the Suns ripped off an 11-0 run to build a 93-83 lead behind Green and a full-court sequence from Royce O’Neale.
But Portland never folded. Instead, it responded with poise and consistency all the way to the final comeback.
It’s a game of runs. Their run was over, and I knew ours was coming. The resilience of this group was the key – they never stopped believing
Tiago Splitter
Avdija Enters Play-In NBA History
With his 41-point performance, Avdija joins exclusive company as just the fifth player ever to score 40+ in a play-in game, alongside:
- Jayson Tatum (50 points, 2021)
- Coby White (42 points, 2024)
- Anthony Davis (40 points, 2025)
- Zion Williamson (40 points, 2024)
And the praise came quickly.
“Deni Avdija is a real star,” said Kendrick Perkins.
“He’s a superstar!” added Udonis Haslem.
Avdija Reflects After the Win
Postgame, Avdija pointed to the team’s growth:
Every one of us wants to make the right play to win. Earlier in the season, I don’t think we come back in a game like this. Today we showed our character
Deni Avdija
The Blazers will now face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. The Suns, meanwhile, will get one final shot at the No. 8 seed against the winner of Clippers-Warriors, with a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder awaiting.