Powered by Deni Avdija’s “superstar moment,” the Trail Blazers locked up a playoff berth, as Bill Oram of The Oregonian writes.
Avdija poured in 41 points in Tuesday’s play-in win at Phoenix, becoming just the fifth player in the event’s seven-year history to reach the 40-point mark.
He knocked down the go-ahead shot with 16.1 seconds left and drew contact that fouled out Dillon Brooks.
“I feel like he’s unique,” teammate Jrue Holiday said of Avdija. “Nobody does what he does. To be able to damn near have a triple-double, on kind of an off-night for him … is something you love to see in Deni because this is what we expect from him now.”
Oram views the win as a statement not just for Avdija, but also for interim coach Tiago Splitter, who is aiming to secure the job permanently, and for general manager Joe Cronin, whose criticized decisions are beginning to pay off.
It also stood out for Jerami Grant, who returned from a calf strain to score 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
Splitter was likewise impressed with Avdija’s showing in his first chance to lead a team in the postseason.
“I don’t even think he had a great game,” Splitter said, “but he just kept going, kept believing in himself (and) scored a couple buckets at the end.”
Trail Blazers Notes: Avdija, Splitter, Dundon, Henderson https://t.co/QpjtJoX98W pic.twitter.com/PGABKbDaRd
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 16, 2026
