Deni Avdija fires warning shot at Spurs after Blazers advance to playoffs

The Portland Trail Blazers secured their place in the 2026 NBA Playoffs with a 114-110 Play-In victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, and Deni Avdija made it clear the team is not satisfied with simply advancing.

Avdija delivered a dominant performance to lead Portland to the No. 7 seed, finishing with 41 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds and two blocks. He shot 15-for-22 from the field, 3-for-8 from three-point range and 8-for-13 from the free-throw line across 38 minutes.

The win sets up a first-round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, who finished 62-20 as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. PT on NBC and Peacock.

Speaking to the Prime Video broadcast after the game, Avdija acknowledged the challenge ahead while expressing confidence in Portland’s chances.

“They’re a great team, very talented. You know, they’re young too so they don’t have a lot of playoff experience as well. It’s gonna be a fight. It’s gonna be tough, it’s gonna be a fight. We’re going to bring everything we got and I really believe in the guys. We can do everything we want if we’re staying together, connected. We’ll be ready to play.”

Deni on facing the Spurs:

"They're young too so they don't have a lot of playoff experience as well. It's gonna be a fight" pic.twitter.com/85dZzBM0xd

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026

Deni Avdija’s dominance vs Spurs fuels Blazers’ upset hopes

Portland enters the series as an underdog, having gone 1-2 against San Antonio during the regular season. However, Avdija found consistent success in those matchups, averaging 31.7 points, eight assists and 7.3 rebounds across three games. He shot 54.8% from the field and 52.9% from beyond the arc while playing 38.7 minutes per contest.

The Trail Blazers’ late-season surge has positioned them as a potential threat despite their lower seeding. Avdija’s breakout performance in the Play-In Tournament underscores his role as a focal point heading into the postseason.

With momentum on their side and a clear belief in their identity, Portland now turns its attention to a high-stakes series against one of the Western Conference’s top teams.

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