The Phoenix Suns (14-12) and Portland Trail Blazers (6-19) meet tonight in Portland for their second matchup this season. A lot of familiar faces will square off for both teams. Jusuf Nurkić, Nassir Little and Drew Eubanks return to Portland for the first time. The Suns will face off against Deandre Ayton for the second time this year, as well as Toumani Camara and Ish Wainright. In these two team’s last meeting, the Suns came out with a 120-107 victory just less than a month ago. Phoenix snapped a two-game losing streak Sunday vs. the Wizards with a 112-108 victory, but still have lost six of their last nine. The Trail Blazers enter tonight on a seven-game losing streak.
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Start Time: 8 p.m. MST
Location: Moda Center
TV Channel: 3TV/AZ Family
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, La Mejor 106.5 FM
Stream: Suns Live (click for more info)
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 19, 2023
Betting Odds
Line: PHX -7.5
O/U: 230.5
Injury Report
Phoenix Suns: Bradley Beal (right ankle sprain) OUT | Grayson Allen (right hamstring soreness) AVAILABLE | Nassir Little (left knee soreness) AVAILABLE | Josh Okogie (right hip injury) OUT | Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) OUT
Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (right adductor soreness) AVAILABLE | Robert Williams III (right knee ligament tear) OUT
Starters (Projected)
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkić
Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant, Deandre Ayton
Last Time Out
The Phoenix Suns (14-12) came back to beat the Washington Wizards (4-21) 112-108 Sunday night. Washington was in control pretty much the entire night until the end of the third quarter, once leading by as much as 16. Devin Booker propelled the Suns, who have struggled in the fourth quarter all year to the victory. Booker, who started 1-of-7 from three and had three turnovers through three quarters, got the Suns organized and gave them the momentum they needed in the fourth quarter. He finished with 11 points and three assists and was a +12 in the final frame alone, as the Suns were down eight heading into it. On the night, Booker had 27 points, eight assists and four rebounds on 10-of-24 shooting from the field and 3-of-11 on threes. Phoenix held Washington to 0-for-10 shooting from three in the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant had 28 points and five assists, while Jusuf Nurkić had 17 rebounds. Eric Gordon (13 points), Jordan Goodwin (6/8/6) and Drew Eubanks (12 points and five rebounds) were major contributors off the bench.
Despite not allowing a single Steph Curry three to end his streak at 268 straight games with one, the Portland Trail Blazers (6-19) fell to the Golden State Warriors (12-14) 118-114. Jerami Grant had 30 points, while Anfernee Simons scored all 21 of his points in the second half for the Blazers. Portland made the game interesting towards the end, but could not pull it off after Shaedon Sharpe was called for an offensive foul down two with 0.6 seconds remaining. This loss extended the Blazers’ losing streak to seven,
Flashback: Last Meeting (Nov. 21, 2023)
Team Matchup Notes
Here are some stats, notes and everything else to know about the Suns and Blazers before their second matchup of the season (via Suns)
Each team’s stats (via Suns):
Five Keys to Game for Suns
- Don’t underestimate the opponent
- Need to start the game much better
- Learn from defense played in fourth quarter vs. Wizards
- Key in on Anfernee Simons
- Gets Booker and Durant in a rhythm early
Preview: Trio of Suns Return to Portland
Preview: Injury Report
Here’s Who Will Be Out for the Suns Tomorrow against the Blazers
Last Game: Pressers
Devin Booker Shakes off Rough Start, Helps Struggling Suns Get Comeback Victory over Wizards
Frank Vogel Praises Suns Defense after 16-Point Comeback Victory over Wizards
Best Bets
Suns vs Trailblazers: The Kevin Durant Player Props That Will Get You Paid
Suns vs Trailblazers: Deandre Ayton’s Player Props That Will Get You Paid
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
