Deni Avdija's 41-Point Playoff Debut Sends Portland Blazers Back to the Postseason

Deni Avdija spent more than five seasons toiling in the background of the NBA, first in Washington and then in Portland, on teams that never gave him a real chance to play meaningful April basketball. On Tuesday night in Phoenix, he made sure no one will ever forget his first real opportunity.

Avdija scored 41 points in his postseason debut, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-110 win over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA play-in tournament. The victory clinched the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference for the Blazers, who will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. It is Portland's first playoff appearance since 2021.

The 25-year-old Israeli forward had never played a minute of NBA postseason basketball until Tuesday. He played like someone who had been waiting for this moment his entire career. He shot 15 of 22 from the field, pulled down seven rebounds and dished out 12 assists, controlling the game in every facet while willing his team back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit.

With 16.1 seconds remaining and the score tied, Avdija drove hard to the rim, absorbed contact, converted the basket and was fouled. He stepped to the free-throw line and knocked down the shot to complete the three-point play and seal the win.

It's the best thing that's ever happened to me in my career so far, Avdija said afterward.

Jrue Holiday, the two-time NBA champion now playing guard for Portland, was watching from courtside and came away thoroughly impressed. The best part, Holiday said, was that it was almost an off night for Avdija by his own standards. Nobody does what he does, Holiday added. Deni coming out here, carrying us, especially down the stretch, getting that winning bucket and being able to go home knowing we're playing San Antonio is something you love to see because this is what we expect from him now.

Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter agreed that Avdija did not have his sharpest game despite the box score numbers. He noted that the 6-foot-8 forward's next challenge will be confronting a Spurs defence that will present entirely different problems across a seven-game series. If Tuesday night was any indication, Avdija will adapt. He just kept going, kept believing in himself, Splitter said. Scored a couple buckets at the end there. A little bit of what he did the whole season. He had the ball a lot and decided the game.

Portland's young roster showed a different edge throughout the evening. The Blazers had struggled at times during the regular season to close out tight contests, but they found another gear when it mattered most. We showed character today, Avdija said. We showed growth. We showed we were capable of keeping our composure and making winning plays. Holiday added 21 points and Jerami Grant returned from a calf injury to contribute 16. The physical nature of the game, with hard fouls flying throughout, did not rattle the Blazers.

The San Antonio series will be a rigorous test for Avdija and a Portland team still building its postseason identity. But after Tuesday's performance, there is little doubt who the franchise will look to first when a crucial basket is needed.