Trail Blazers beat Suns 114-110 in play-in after clawing back from an 11-point 4th-quarter deficit

Deni Avdija led the Portland Trail Blazers to a thrilling 114-110 victory over the Phoenix Suns in the NBA’s play-in tournament, scoring 41 points and making a crucial 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left. Despite trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter, the Blazers rallied back, with Avdija also contributing 12 assists. The Suns briefly regained the lead with Jordan Goodwin’s layup, but Avdija’s decisive play secured Portland’s win. The Blazers will now face the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs, while the Suns await the outcome of the Clippers-Warriors game to determine their next opponent. The game was marked by intense back-and-forth action, with Jerami Grant and Devin Booker also making significant contributions. The Blazers overcame a poor shooting performance in the third quarter to mount their comeback, ultimately earning the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. QUESTION: How might the outcome of this game influence the confidence and performance of the Trail Blazers in their upcoming playoff series against the Spurs?