Suns in must-win situation after blowing lead in loss to Blazers

The Phoenix Suns shouldn’t need another chance to make the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

The Suns squandered an 11-point, fourth-quarter lead in falling to the Portland Trail Blazers, 114-110, April 14 in the Play-In Tournament, with the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs on the line at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

“We’ve got to close the game out,” Suns guard Jalen Green said.

Portland advanced to the first round, where it will face No. 2 San Antonio starting April 19.

The Suns will play April 17 at home against the winner of the April 15 Western Conference Play-In game between the No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers and No. 10 Golden State Warriors in Inglewood, Calif. The winner of Friday's game will be the No. 8 playoff seed and face defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the No. 1 seed, in the opening round starting April 19. The loser's season will end.

A sellout crowd of 17,071 watched the Blazers close on a 25-10 run after trailing, 100-89, with 6:41 left in Tuesday's game.

“It is the culmination of a tough year, but this group is very resilient,” Blazers coach Tiago Splitter said. “I think we showed that in the fourth quarter. It was just believing in ourselves and getting it done. I am happy for them. They went through a lot throughout the season, so being in the playoffs is a great accomplishment for this group."

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott looks up from the sidelines as the team faces the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) yells out to the refeee after being called for a foul against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates his 3-point shot against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a 3-point shot while being fouled against the Portland Trailblazersduring their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a 3-point shot while being fouled against the Portland Trailblazersduring their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before playing the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots the ball over Portland Trailblazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives between Portland Trailblazers defenders Toumani Camara (33) and Deni Avdija (8) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) lays the ball up while being fouled by Portland Trailblazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott looks up from the sidelines as the team faces the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott looks up from the sidelines as the team faces the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) yells out to the refeee after being called for a foul against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates his 3-point shot against the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a 3-point shot while being fouled against the Portland Trailblazersduring their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) reacts after making a 3-point shot while being fouled against the Portland Trailblazersduring their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before playing the Portland Trailblazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots the ball over Portland Trailblazers guard Jrue Holiday (5) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives between Portland Trailblazers defenders Toumani Camara (33) and Deni Avdija (8) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns battle Portland Trail Blazers in NBA Play-In Tournament

Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) lays the ball up while being fouled by Portland Trailblazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April, 14, 2026.

Deni Avdija delivered a game-high 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds in his postseason debut. His 3-point play gave Portland a 112-110 lead with 16.1 seconds left.

“I'm so happy for the guys,” Avdija said. “We worked so hard, we had the ups and downs, and it wasn't an easy year for us. Coming here to a Play-In game and beating the seventh seed and going to the playoffs, it's like the best thing that has ever happened to me in my career so far.”

Green missed a 3 with 8.9 seconds left off Devin Booker’s pass. Jordan Goodwin grabbed the offensive rebound, but Matisse Thybulle forced a turnover that led to Jerami Grant’s breakaway dunk to cap Portland’s comeback win.

"He had it going the whole night,” Booker said of Green. “I can take that shot, too to force overtime, but I saw Jrue (Holiday) sleeping a little bit and Jalen shifted to the open space."

Green scored a team-high 35 points, Booker scored 22 and Dillon Brooks went 20 before fouling out in the fourth quarter. The Suns were without Grayson Allen, who was downgraded from questionable to out with left hamstring soreness before the game.

Here are several takeaways from Tuesday's loss as the Suns face a win-or-go-home game Friday.

No stopping Avdija

Suns coach Jordan Ott knows how Avdija goes about his business.

The 6-8, 228-pound first-time All-Star plays downhill with physicality and attacks the rim, but Ott elected to have the smaller and shorter Jordan Goodwin at 6-3, 200 pounds, guard him for most of the game.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) reacts after making a layup while being fouled by the Phoenix Suns during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 14, 2026.

Yes, Goodwin is the team’s best on-ball defender and embraces a challenge, but Avdija consistently got to the rim on him in having a special night.

This begs the question as to why Ott didn’t have Dillon Brooks defend Avdija more.

He’s only two inches shorter, weighs about the same at 225 pounds and certainly meets the physicality requirements to guard Avdija.

Brooks had a huge defensive stop on Avdija in the third quarter of their comeback.

“Part of that fourth quarter, DB had his fifth foul,” Ott said in answering the question. “That was a portion of it. Even on the last play, they ran the action to then get the switch. You could see the stack in front. We had it matched up. Again, got to his right hand.”

Brooks wound up fouling out on that play in finishing with 20 points, but the Suns could’ve used more of his defense on Avdija.

Another 4th quarter disaster for Phoenix

Since the All-Star break, Phoenix now 5-8 in “clutch games” that are defined by the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points.

Ouch.

“That's been the story at the end of our season so far,” Booker said. “I think we just need to remain aggressive. I think we get a lead and kind of slow down a little bit. That's not what got us the lead in the first place. Just continue to play the next action and continue to play faster.”

The Suns were manufacturing points instead of scoring within a flow, but they shot 50% in the fourth quarter, going 3-of-5 on 3s. They went to the line nine times, making seven.

Phoenix fell short on the defensive end.

The Blazers shot 52.6% from the field, going 4-of-9 from distance. Grant hit two wide open corner 3s in helping fuel that final Portland surge.

Just can’t give up those looks down the stretch and expect to win a "clutch" game.

Ott, Splitter ‘good friends'

Ott and Splitter took time to connect, even the day before facing each other.

“Kept in touch with him even up to last night,” Ott said before Tuesday's game.

Mutual respect is there between the two.

“First of all, we are good friends,” Splitter said before the game. “We worked together for a lot of years.”

They go way back.

Ott was a video coordinator for the Atlanta Hawks from 2013-16 under Mike Budenholzer. Splitter played one season in Atlanta in 2015-16.

“He got traded to Atlanta when he was going through his hip process from San Antonio (Spurs),” Ott said. “Didn’t play a ton with I was there.”

Splitter averaged 5.6 points in 36 games with the Hawks that season.

Ott and Splitter were assistants together for the Brooklyn Nets for two seasons (2020-22) under Steve Nash.

“He came to Brooklyn for multiple seasons, started out testing out what he wanted to do, front office or coaching,” Ott said. “Then came full-time with us.”

Splitter coached the Blazers to a 42-40 record as he replaced Chauncey Billups after the first game of the season. Billups was arrested the next day as part of investigations related to illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia. The Blazers put him on immediate leave.

Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott yells over to his players as they take on the Portland Trail Blazers during their play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 14, 2026.

Splitter took over for Portland’s next game.

“The job he’s done under really tough circumstances,” Ott said. “And injuries. I think often times, going through those injuries, it’s not easy, especially being thrown into the fire. He’s done a tremendous job.”

Ott became Phoenix’s fourth head coach in four seasons, replacing Budenholzer, who won just 36 games in his first and only season with the Suns.

“He is doing a tremendous job,” Splitter said. “He is super smart. His work ethic is off of the charts. He brings intensity and he cares. I'm not surprised by the job he has done.”

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns have one more chance to make playoffs after Play-In loss