Trail Blazers edge Suns 119-118 in intense NBA West play-in matchup

Portland Trail Blazers Advance to NBA Playoffs with Upset Win Over Phoenix Suns

The Portland Trail Blazers secured their first playoff berth in four years after defeating the host Phoenix Suns 114-110 in a National Basketball Association (NBA) play-in game on Tuesday. Deni Avdija led the team with 41 points, including a three-point play with 16.1 seconds remaining that sealed the victory.

The Trail Blazers trailed by 11 points in the fourth quarter but staged an impressive comeback, outscoring the Suns 17-5 to take the lead. The game was tied at 107-106 before Avdija’s driving layup gave Portland a 109-108 advantage with 37.3 seconds remaining.

The win marked the end of a four-year playoff drought for the Trail Blazers and sets up 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.

The Trail Blazers’ victory was also part of a larger day for the NBA, as the Charlotte Hornets advanced to the next round with a 127-126 overtime win over the Miami Heat. LaMelo Ball scored 30 points in that game, while Miles Bridges blocked Davion Mitchell’s shot at the buzzer to secure the win.

The Trail Blazers will now face the Spurs on Sunday, while the Suns will host the winner of the Friday play-in game. The outcome of this contest will determine the No. 8 seed and their opponent in the first game of a seven-game set against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Source: Al Jazeera