The Portland Trail Blazers are back in the playoffs, and Jerami Grant is back where he belongs—on a postseason stage.
After five years away from playoff basketball, Portland secured its first postseason berth since 2021 with an improbable play-in victory against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, overcoming an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Grant, sidelined by a right calf strain through the final week of the regular season, returned off the bench and delivered 16 points in 19 minutes, including two crucial corner three-pointers that helped seal the comeback.
The moment carried particular weight for Grant, whose last playoff appearance came in September 2020—nearly six years ago. For a forward who has spent four seasons with Portland, the play-in breakthrough represents vindication after years of criticism surrounding his contract and fit alongside the franchise's core. His performance Tuesday validated the organization's decision to retain him through the roster's recent evolution.
Portland finished the regular season at 38-38, placing fourth in the Northwest Division but demonstrating late-season momentum that carried into the postseason. The team's recent form included dominant wins: a 134-99 rout of Brooklyn and a 130-99 victory over Milwaukee, showcasing the defensive intensity and rebounding prowess that define their identity. The Trail Blazers lead the NBA in second-chance points and rank second in offensive rebounding percentage, a physical edge they will lean on throughout the playoffs.
The Blazers' path to the postseason was unconventional—a play-in tournament rather than a division title—but the destination is the same. They now face the San Antonio Spurs in a first-round matchup, with Game 1 scheduled for tonight. For Grant and a franchise that has endured a five-year postseason drought, the opportunity to compete in meaningful basketball represents far more than a single series. It is a chance to prove that the roster construction and veteran experience can translate into sustained playoff success.
Grant's return from injury, combined with Portland's late-season form, suggests the Blazers are built to compete. Whether they can sustain that momentum against a Spurs team with deep playoff experience remains the defining question of their postseason.
Jerami Grant (9) of the Portland Trail Blazers drives against Josh Giddey (3) of the Chicago Bulls. (Icon Sportswire/IMAGO)
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