------ Deni Avdija finsihed with a game-high 41 points and scored the go-ahead basket with 16.1 seconds on the clock as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns 114-110 Tuesday night to punch their ticket to the NBA Playoffs.
The Portland Trail Blazers are playoff bound!
Deni Avdija scored a game-high 41 points and dished out 12 assists and Jerami Grant added 16 points off the bench as the Portland Trail Blazers secured a playoff berth with a 114-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Jalen Greed led Phoenix with 35 points and Devin Booker added 22 points and four assists.
Portland used a 26-8 second run to build a 14-point lead but Phoenix closed the half on a 21-10 run and the Trail Blazers took a three-point lead into the locker room.
The Suns tightened up their defense in the second half holding the Blazers to just 18 points in the period. After a 10-4 Phoenix run to close the third, Portland led by one entering the fourth.
Phoenix opened the fourth on a 16-4 run to take an 11-point lead with 7:13 remaining.
Portland continued to chip away. Blazers used a 7-0 run to cut the Suns lead to just one with 2:20 remaining. A Grant corner three-pointer put the Blazers up one with 1:53 to play.
After a pair of Booker free throws, Deni Avdija scored on a driving layup to put Portland up by one with 37.3 seconds to play. Jordan Goodwin responded after a Suns timeout on a reverse layup and he was fouled. Goodwin missed the free throw and the Blazers called timeout down by one with 31.1 seconds to play.
Following the timeout, Avdija once again attacked the rim and scored for another and-one opportunity. He made the free throw to put the Blazers up two with 16.1 seconds on the clock.
Following the timeout, Green missed a three-pointer and Goodwin grabbed the rebound, but Matisse Thybulle forced a steal and threw the ball ahead to Grant for a game-sealing dunk.
Portland closed the game on a 25-10 run.
Up Next- The Trail Blazers will travel to San Antonio to meet the Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday evening at 6:00 PM.
Chad's Take- Incredible win for the franchise!