{"id":585431,"date":"2026-04-15T09:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/585431\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T09:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:36:14","slug":"in-first-for-an-israeli-avdija-leads-portland-to-nba-playoffs-with-41-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/585431\/","title":{"rendered":"In first for an Israeli, Avdija leads Portland to NBA playoffs with 41 points"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) \u2014 Israeli basketball star Deni Avdija scored 41 points \u2014 including a go-ahead 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left \u2014 and the Portland Trail Blazers clawed back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 114-110 in the NBA\u2019s play-in tournament on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

Jordan Goodwin drove for a layup to give the Suns a 110-109 lead with 32 seconds left, but Avdija, who also had 12 assists, responded with a physical take to the rim, making a layup while getting fouled and made the free throw for a 112-110 lead.<\/p>\n

The Suns had a chance to go back ahead, but Jalen Green\u2019s 3-pointer was off the mark. Goodwin grabbed the offensive rebound but was stripped by Matisse Thybulle to seal the win for the Blazers.<\/p>\n

Portland earned the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the San Antonio Spurs in the first round \u2014 a first playoff appearance for an Israeli in the NBA. The Suns will host the winner of the Clippers-Warriors game on Friday. Whoever wins will earn the No. 8 seed and face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs. The loser\u2019s season is over.<\/p>\n

The final few minutes were white-knuckle basketball with the lead changing several times.<\/p>\n

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Jerami Grant \u2014 who returned after missing the final seven games of the regular season because of a calf injury \u2014 made a corner 3-pointer to give the Trail Blazers a 107-106 lead with 1:54 left. Devin Booker responded with a pair of free throws for a 108-107 lead but Avdija made a finger roll at the rim for a 109-108 lead with 37.3 seconds left.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tPhoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, passes the ball to a teammate as Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara defends during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game, April 14, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. (AP Photo\/Ross D. Franklin)<\/p>\n

Green led the Suns with 35 points. Booker had 22.<\/p>\n

The Blazers led 83-82 going into the fourth despite shooting just 1 of 11 on 3-pointers in the third quarter. Phoenix pushed to its first lead of the second half when Green made a jumper on the opening possession of the fourth.<\/p>\n

It was the start of an 11-0 run that gave the Suns a 93-83 advantage. Royce O\u2019Neale\u2019s steal and 3-pointer put Phoenix ahead 98-87 lead with 7:13 remaining, but that\u2019s when the Blazers started their comeback.<\/p>\n

The Suns led 33-31 after one quarter, but the Trail Blazers pushed to a 55-41 advantage by midway through the second. Phoenix bounced back to cut the deficit to 65-62 at the break after Green completed a four-point play \u2014 hitting a 3 while being fouled \u2014 with one second remaining.<\/p>\n

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n


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