In a thrilling NBA Play-in Tournament clash, Deni Avdija delivered a career-high 41 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a hard-fought 114-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (PH time). This win officially clinched the West No. 7 playoff spot for the Trail Blazers, setting up a first-round best-of-seven series against the West No. 2 San Antonio Spurs.
Western Conference Showdown
The No. 8 seeded Trail Blazers overcame the No. 7 Suns in a tightly contested battle, with Avdija spearheading the offense. He was supported by Jrue Holiday, who contributed 21 points, and Jerami Grant, who added 16 points. On the Suns' side, Fil-Am star Jalen Green led the charge with 35 points, while Devin Booker chipped in 22 points and Dillon Brooks scored 20.
With this loss, the Suns now face a must-win scenario against the winner of the West No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers versus No. 10 Golden State Warriors game, scheduled for 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 16. The victor will claim the final West No. 8 playoff position.
Eastern Conference Drama
In the Eastern Conference Play-in Tournament, the No. 9 Charlotte Hornets secured a dramatic 127-126 overtime win against the No. 10 Miami Heat. LaMelo Ball emerged as the hero for the Hornets, sinking a game-winning layup with just 4.7 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Heat had a last-gasp opportunity to steal the victory, but Davion Mitchell's potential game-tying shot was blocked by Miles Bridges as the final buzzer sounded. Ball top-scored for the Hornets with 30 points, supported by Bridges' 28 points and Brandon Miller's 23 points. For the Heat, Mitchell led with 28 points, Andrew Wiggins added 27, and Tyler Herro contributed 23 points.
A significant blow for the Heat was the loss of their star center, Bam Adebayo, who suffered a lower-back injury early in the second quarter and did not return to the game.
Playoff Implications
The Hornets' victory sets up a crucial matchup against the loser of the East No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers versus No. 8 Orlando Magic game, also on Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 AM. The winner of that contest will secure the East No. 8 playoff berth, continuing their postseason aspirations.
These Play-in Tournament games highlight the intense competition and high stakes as teams vie for the final spots in the NBA Playoffs, with standout performances from players like Avdija and Ball shaping the outcomes.
