Trail Blazers thump Suns to clinch playoff berth
The Portland Trail Blazers are headed back to the playoffs.
Portland trashed the Phoenix Suns on Monday to clinch its second consecutive playoff berth.
Five players scored in double figures in the 109-86 victory, led by All-Star Damian Lillard's team-high 19 points. Portland became the third team in the league to reach the 30-win mark at home this season.
The Trail Blazers have clinched their 31st playoff appearance, tied for third-most by any team since Portland joined the NBA in 1970.
— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 31, 2015
Portland is 6.5 games up on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Northwest Division with nine contests remaining. The inevitable division title the Trail Blazers are set to earn will mark Portland's first since 1998-99.
Lillard propelled the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Semifinals last season with a dramatic buzzer-beating shot in Game 6 of the first round to eliminate the Houston Rockets.
Portland was then knocked out in five games by the San Antonio Spurs, who defeated the Miami Heat in the Finals.
The Trail Blazers join the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers as the five West teams to clinch so far.
Portland is currently projected to meet the Clippers in the first round. The Trail Blazers have won two-of-three meetings versus Los Angeles this season, with one contest remaining Wednesday in Portland.