The Portland Trail Blazers secured their first postseason berth in five years after forward Deni Avdija erupted for 41 points in Tuesday’s play-in victory over the Suns in Phoenix. Avdija drilled the go-ahead basket with 16.1 seconds remaining, fouling out Dillon Brooks on the play, and became only the fifth player to top 40 points in the seven-year history of the play-in tournament.
“I feel like he’s unique. Nobody does what he does,” guard Jrue Holiday said, noting Avdija was “damn near” a triple-double threat even on what Holiday called “an off night.”
Interim coach Splitter bolsters résumé
Interim head coach Tiago Splitter, elevated midseason, steadied Portland with a late fourth-quarter timeout after Phoenix had built an 11-point lead. The composure helped the Blazers reverse momentum and finish the comeback. “I don’t even think he had a great game, but he just kept going, kept believing in himself,” Splitter said of Avdija.
Local reporting indicates Splitter has earned consideration for a multi-year deal, yet his future may hinge on the spending plans of new owner Tom Dundon.
Dundon’s coaching budget questioned
League sources told The Oregonian that Dundon prefers paying about $1 million annually—a quarter of the typical NBA head-coaching salary—sparking speculation he could target first-time candidates willing to accept a discount. Among names linked are Nuggets assistant Jared Dudley and Rockets assistant Royal Ivey, as well as college coaches.
Dundon’s cost-cutting approach reportedly surfaced in Phoenix, where several team staffers checked out of their hotel rooms by noon on game day to avoid an extra night’s charge, leaving them to wait hours in the lobby before the first bus to Footprint Center.
Grant returns; Henderson healthy at last
Jerami Grant contributed 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench after missing time with a calf strain. Meanwhile, third-year guard Scoot Henderson—the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft—has moved into the starting lineup following a recovery from a torn left hamstring that sidelined him for the season’s first 51 games.
“I never felt bad for myself,” Henderson told Andscape. “I’m in recovery mode. I’m getting back healthy.”
Portland will open the postseason this weekend, with Avdija, Splitter and a frugal new ownership group all under the league’s spotlight.
Source: Hoops Rumors
