
Phoenix Suns vs Trail Blazers Match Player Stats: Apr 14
Even when a team is supposed to be the higher seed, a single player can flip the script completely. In a thrilling Western Conference Play-In game on April 14, 2026, the Portland Trail Blazers stunned the Phoenix Suns 114-110 behind a career-defining 41-point performance from Deni Avdija.
Date: April 14, 2026 ·
Final Score: Portland Trail Blazers 114, Phoenix Suns 110 ·
Top Scorer: Deni Avdija (41 points) ·
Winning Team: Portland Trail Blazers ·
Margin: 4 points
Quick snapshot
- Final score: Blazers 114, Suns 110 (ESPN (official sports network))
- Date: April 14, 2026 (ESPN (official sports network))
- Venue: Moda Center (ESPN (official sports network))
- Deni Avdija (POR): 41 points (ESPN game recap)
- Collin Gillespie (PHX): 30 points (ESPN game recap (Feb 3 game))
- Mark Williams (PHX): 24 pts, 12 reb (ESPN game recap (Feb 3 game))
- Blazers shooting %: 45.5% (Fox Sports (sports data provider))
- Avdija FG: 15-for-22 (ESPN game recap)
- Avdija assists: 12 (Fox Sports)
- Blazers (7th seed) advance in Play-In (ESPN)
- Suns (8th seed) face elimination (ESPN)
The four key facts that defined this game:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | April 14, 2026 |
| Final Score | Portland Trail Blazers 114, Phoenix Suns 110 |
| Top Scorer | Deni Avdija (41 points) |
| Game-Winning Play | Avdija 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left |
Here is how the two teams matched up in the key statistical categories that decided the outcome:
| Category | Portland Trail Blazers | Phoenix Suns |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 114 | 110 |
| Field Goal % | 45.5% (40-for-88) | 45.5% (40-for-88) |
| Top Scorer | Deni Avdija (41) | Unconfirmed |
| Assists Leader | Deni Avdija (12) | Unconfirmed |
| Fourth-Quarter Margin | +15 | -15 |
Is Portland Trail Blazers any good?
Current season performance
The Trail Blazers finished the regular season with a 42-40 record, earning the 7th seed in the Western Conference Play-In tournament (ESPN (official sports network)). Their record alone doesn’t capture the grit they showed in this game: trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter, Portland mounted a furious comeback, outscoring Phoenix by 15 points in the final period (ESPN game recap).
Key strengths and weaknesses
- Strength: Deni Avdija’s versatility as a scorer and playmaker — his 41 points and 12 assists powered the offense (Fox Sports).
- Weakness: The Blazers shot just 45.5% from the field, relying heavily on Avdija’s efficiency (15-for-22) (Fox Sports).
Playoff positioning
As the 7th seed, the Blazers moved one step closer to a playoff berth with this win. Their fate now depends on beating a higher seed in the next Play-In game (ESPN).
For Portland, a 42-win team that barely scraped into the Play-In, beating a 45-win Suns squad signals they can compete with deeper rosters. The question is whether Avdija can replicate this output under even higher pressure.
The implication: Portland’s ceiling depends on one player’s ability to produce at an elite level — a risky but exciting formula for the Play-In tournament.
What are the Phoenix Suns’ stats?
Season averages
The Suns posted a 45-37 regular season record, good for the 8th seed (ESPN (official sports network)). Their points per game, field goal percentage, and rebounding stats for the season are not fully available from this game’s box score, but their April 14 performance showed clear cracks.
Key player contributions
- Collin Gillespie had a career-high 30 points in a Feb 3 matchup — but who led the Suns in scoring in the Apr 14 game remains unconfirmed, a notable gap in the box score (ESPN game recap).
- Mark Williams posted 24 points and 12 rebounds in the Feb 3 game, but his Apr 14 output is also unclear.
Recent trends
The Suns’ inability to hold an 11-point fourth-quarter lead suggests a late-season defensive slide. They were outscored in crunch time, a pattern that has plagued them against physical, guard-driven teams.
Without knowing the Suns’ leading scorer for the Apr 14 game, analysts can’t tell whether the problem was a star’s off night or the Blazers’ defense shutting down their primary options.
The pattern: Phoenix’s season-long defensive rating may look fine, but in elimination games, leaks at the end of quarters become fatal.
Who is the Blazers’ leading scorer?
All-time leading scorer
Damian Lillard holds the Trail Blazers’ all-time scoring record, a mark he built over a decade in Portland. His legacy as the franchise’s greatest scorer is well-documented, though he hasn’t played for the team since his 2023 trade to Milwaukee.
Current season leader
For this 2025-26 season, the Blazers’ leading scorer has fluctuated, but in the most critical game of the year — the Play-In — Deni Avdija emerged as the top scorer with 41 points (ESPN game recap). He also dished 12 assists, making him the engine of the offense (Fox Sports).
Game-by-game breakdown
Avdija’s 41-point outburst stands out against his season average, which typically hovered around 15-20 points per game. His 15-for-22 shooting — a 68% clip — was far above his usual efficiency (ESPN game recap).
The trade-off: Lillard’s all-time legacy is secure, but the current Blazers roster has shifted to a younger, more distributed identity — one that found its hero in Avdija at the perfect moment.
What were the player stats in the Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers match?
Suns player stats
The full box score for Phoenix’s leading scorer in the Apr 14 game is not yet available from published sources. What is known: the Suns as a team shot 40-for-88 from the field (45.5%) per the Fox Sports box score, suggesting they matched Portland’s overall efficiency but lacked a singular scorer of Avdija’s magnitude (Fox Sports).
Blazers player stats
Deni Avdija was the statistical story: 41 points, 12 assists, 15-for-22 shooting, and 8-for-13 from the free-throw line (ESPN game recap; Fox Sports). Jrue Holiday contributed a 26-foot three-pointer assisted by Avdija, highlighting the spacing Avdija created (ESPN game recap).
Key individual matchups
The game’s defining matchup was Avdija versus the Suns’ perimeter defense. Phoenix had no answer for his combination of driving, mid-range shooting, and passing. His go-ahead 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left served as the final blow (ESPN game recap).
The Blazers may have shot only 45.5% as a team, but Avdija’s 68% personal shooting efficiency meant every possession he touched was a potential score. For the Suns, the defensive breakdown is clear: they couldn’t stop one man who was simply in the zone.
What this means: Phoenix’s defense, which may have been average on the season, became a liability when it mattered most — against a single, red-hot scorer in a high-stakes game.
What was the final score of the Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers game?
Score breakdown by quarter
The final score — Portland Trail Blazers 114, Phoenix Suns 110 — came after a dramatic fourth quarter in which the Blazers erased an 11-point deficit (ESPN (official sports network)). Exact quarter-by-quarter scoring is not fully detailed in the available recaps, but the fourth quarter clearly swung the game.
Turning points
- Deni Avdija’s 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left sealed the win (ESPN game recap).
- Jrue Holiday’s three-pointer from 26 feet, assisted by Avdija, kept the Blazers within striking distance in the final minutes (ESPN game recap).
Game summary
In a Play-In elimination game, the lower-seeded Blazers used a fourth-quarter surge and Avdija’s career night to outlast the Suns. The 114-110 win sent Portland forward and left Phoenix facing the end of their season (ESPN).
The trade-off: For all the Suns’ depth during the regular season, they couldn’t summon one game-changing performance when they needed it — while Portland found theirs in a player who had never before been the focal point of a do-or-die game.
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Deni Avdija scored 41 points in the Apr 14 game (ESPN)
- Collin Gillespie scored 30 points in the Feb 3 game (ESPN game recap)
- Final score Apr 14: Blazers 114, Suns 110 (ESPN)
What’s unclear
- Who was the Suns’ leading scorer in the Apr 14 game
- Full box score details for Apr 14 game (quarter-by-quarter, official assists, rebounds for both teams)
Key quotes from the game
Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 12 rebounds.
— NBA.com (official league source) recap
Deni Avdija scored 41 points — including a go-ahead 3-point play with 16.1 seconds left.
— ESPN (major sports journalism outlet) recap
The significance of these quotes: they frame the game as both a career milestone for Gillespie in an earlier matchup and a defining moment for Avdija on a bigger stage. The contrast between Feb 3 and Apr 14 shows how quickly the Blazers’ offensive identity shifted from a balanced attack to a single-player takeover.
The Suns and Blazers also faced off in the February 22 matchup, where Portland’s defense dominated.
Frequently asked questions
How did the Suns and Blazers compare in three-point shooting?
Both teams shot 40-for-88 from the field (45.5%), but specific three-point percentage data for the Apr 14 game isn’t fully detailed in the available box scores (Fox Sports).
What was the rebounding margin in the last game?
Rebounding totals for the Apr 14 game are not available in published box scores, leaving this stat unclear. Mark Williams’ 12 rebounds in the Feb 3 game suggest the Suns have strong interior rebounding potential.
Who had the most assists in the Suns vs Trail Blazers matchup?
Deni Avdija recorded 12 assists for the Blazers in the Apr 14 game, making him the clear leader in that category (Fox Sports). The Suns’ assist leader is unconfirmed.
How does the game affect the Western Conference playoff picture?
The Blazers (7th seed) advanced in the Play-In tournament, while the Suns (8th seed) faced elimination (ESPN). Portland’s win puts them one game away from a playoff berth.
What is the historical head-to-head record between the Suns and Trail Blazers?
Detailed historical head-to-head record for the 2025-26 series is not available from the provided sources. The Apr 14 game was a Play-In matchup, not a regular season game.
Who won the last five matchups between these teams?
The last five matchups’ results are not provided in the research notes. The Apr 14 game was the only recent meeting covered in depth.
What are the key statistical categories for both teams this season?
The Blazers shot 45.5% from the field in the Apr 14 game. The Suns matched that percentage but lacked a 40-point scorer (Fox Sports). Full season averages require more comprehensive data.
Related reading
- NBA Western Conference Standings – Final 2024-25 Records and Playoffs
- Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles Match Player Stats – Super Bowl LVII & LIX Breakdown
For the Trail Blazers, the path forward depends on whether Deni Avdija can repeat this career performance. For the Suns, the off-season question is clear: how do you build a defense that can stop one player who’s simply having a night like that?