The Blazers captured the No. 7 seed and will meet the San Antonio Spurs in the first round after a late-hand sequence that decided the game. Deni Avdija scored the go-ahead layup and an and-one with 16 seconds left to put Portland up, while Jordan Goodwin retrieved an offensive board before Jrue Holiday stole the ball and fed Jerami Grant for a exclamation dunk with 0.6 seconds remaining.
Green competed with Avdija down the stretch, matching baskets as Portland attempted to pull away late. Avdija’s late scoring burst and free-throw opportunities helped the Blazers create separation in a tight fourth quarter that Phoenix could not overcome.
Following the loss, Green addressed the officiating, signaling that the referees should call fouls consistently on both sides. He did not single out Avdija, but he implied that calls were uneven over the course of the game.
Injury updates added context to Green’s performance. The first-year Suns wideout has been hampered by right hamstring issues this season and played nearly 39 minutes despite a sore right knee. He acknowledged uncertainty about his next game status, saying he would “be getting my body right though for sure.”
The Suns now prepare for one final game Friday, hosting the winner of the Clippers–Warriors play-in matchup to determine the No. 8 seed in the West, before shifting focus to the postseason implications of their Play-In exit. Portland advances to the first round against the Spurs, ending Phoenix’s bid for an outright playoff spot.
