Trail Blazers beat Suns 114-110 in West Play-In

The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns 114-110 on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in the NBA Western Conference Play-In, with Deni Avdija leading the way with 41 points and 12 assists. Portland came away with the road win after taking control in the second quarter and holding off Phoenix late.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Phoenix opened efficiently and carried a 33-31 lead through one quarter. The Suns shot well early and got needed scoring from Jalen Green, but Portland stayed close by matching the pace and keeping its offense moving.

Second Quarter

The Trail Blazers made their biggest push before halftime, outscoring the Suns 34-29 in the period. That swing turned Phoenix’s early edge into a 65-62 Portland lead at the break. Avdija’s playmaking and Portland’s perimeter volume were important during that stretch.

Third Quarter

Defense and half-court execution shaped the third. Phoenix trimmed the margin slightly by winning the quarter 20-18, cutting the deficit to 83-82 entering the fourth. The Suns looked positioned for a late push after slowing Portland’s scoring for the period.

Fourth Quarter

Portland answered in winning time. The Trail Blazers scored 31 points in the final quarter, compared to 28 for Phoenix, and made enough plays down the stretch to preserve the four-point result. The Suns remained within reach, but Portland’s shot-making and ball movement carried the finish.

Key Performers

Portland Trail Blazers
Deni Avdija delivered the standout performance of the game with 41 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. Donovan Clingan added a team-high 11 rebounds as Portland finished with a 42-38 edge on the glass. As a team, the Trail Blazers recorded 26 assists and made 17 three-pointers.

Phoenix Suns
Jalen Green led Phoenix with 35 points and kept the Suns in the game throughout the night. Royce O’Neale paced Phoenix with 8 rebounds, while Oso Ighodaro handed out 6 assists. The Suns shot a solid 49.4 percent from the field but made only 9 three-pointers compared to Portland’s 17.

NerdSports Stat: Portland won by four despite Phoenix shooting 49.4 percent from the field, because the Trail Blazers attempted 22 more three-pointers and finished with an eight-make advantage from deep.

Game Analysis

This game turned on math and creation. Phoenix was more efficient overall from the field, but Portland generated a different scoring profile by taking 47 shots from three-point range and converting 17 of them. That spacing gave the Trail Blazers enough offense to offset the Suns’ stronger two-point efficiency.

Avdija’s all-around control was the biggest difference. His 41 points set the scoring pace, and his 12 assists consistently put Phoenix’s defense into rotation. Portland also won the rebound battle and finished with more assists, signs of a team that created enough extra possessions and quality looks to survive on the road.

For Phoenix, Green’s 35 points provided a clear scoring centerpiece, and the Suns stayed competitive by shooting 49.4 percent overall and getting to the free-throw line 32 times. Still, the gap in three-point production and Portland’s second-quarter edge left the Suns with too little room for error in the closing minutes.

Closing Context

With the result, Portland improved to 42-40 and claimed the West Play-In matchup between the seventh and eighth seeds, an important step in the postseason picture. Phoenix, which finished 45-37, fell short at home despite a strong offensive night from Green and now faces the disappointment of letting a close game slip away in a high-stakes setting.

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