PHOENIX – Seeing a first-half lead evaporate, the Phoenix Suns found a way to take control in the fourth quarter and win 116-109 over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Devin Booker followed up a 34-point performance on Friday against the Utah Jazz with a game-high 28 points for the Suns (14-10). Jusuf Nurkić had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds and Tyus Jones added 19 points.
Anfernee Simons collected 20 points and Jerami Grant clinched 17 in the Trail Blazers’ (8-18) sixth straight loss.
Here are the main takeaways of the Suns kickstarting a three-game home stand with a win:
-Listed as questionable, the Suns were forced to be without Bradley Beal as he is dealing with right knee swelling. The three-time NBA All-Star has missed the past two games and 10 overall this season. Beal has also sustained an elbow injury and left calf strain early in the year.
-In what could have been a return to the Valley, the Suns’ 2018 No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton was out with an illness for the Trail Blazers. The University of Arizona product sat out the Trail Blazers’ previous game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday. He played five years (2018-23) in Phoenix before being dealt to Portland as part of a three-team trade that saw Damian Lillard go to the Milwaukee Bucks.
-The Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 33-21 courtesy of a collective effort by the players. Durant, Jones, and Grayson Allen all scored six points each and Devin Booker led all players with eight in the first quarter.
-Shooting 48.9% from 3 against the Jazz, the Suns struggled to match that same efficiency. Going 7-for-19 (36.8%) from 3 as a team in the first half, Durant was 0-for-5 on his attempts through two quarters. Phoenix finished 15-for-39 (38.5%) from behind the arch.
-Just coming back from injury on Friday, Durant struggled to find a rhythm and couldn’t snap out of the offensive funk until the fourth quarter. Scoring 30 points in the victory over Utah, Durant shot 9-for-23 (39.1%) from the field and 1-for-9 (11.1%) from deep for 20 points.
-Imposing his will in the paint, Portland’s 2024 first-round pick Donovan Clingan continued his impressive start to his NBA career. With Ayton out and Robert Williams III returning after missing the past seven games with a concussion, Clingan logged in 19 minutes and amassed 10 points and nine rebounds, just a rebound shy of a double-double.
-Tweaking the game plan after being down by as much as 13, the Trail Blazers clawed back and got within two, 46-44 in the second quarter. Making a substantial impact in his first game back, Williams III netted six points in the second frame when he checked in for Clingan. The former Boston Celtic Williams III put up eight points and three rebounds.
-Flipping a switch, the Trail Blazers took advantage of the Suns’ slow start to the third quarter. Portland opened up the second half with an 11-0 run while the Suns were missing shot after shot, turning the ball over and fouling. During Phoenix’s three-game losing streak before the victory over the Jazz, the team led at halftime before suffering three consecutive second-half collapses.
-Falling hard on the floor after going on the attack in the paint, Blazers guard Dalano Banton was in serious pain and was flat on the hardwood. Taking a few moments to gather his bearings, Banton galloped to Portland’s bench and sat straight down. Fortunately for the Blazers, he would return to the game later on and had seven points, four rebounds and four assists.
-The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle before it concluded, with Phoenix picking up the pace and constructing a 16-8 run. Stunned by the Blazers when they took a 71-67 lead, the Suns fans grew into the game and the team fed off of the home-court advantage to go back up 83-79 at the end of the quarter.
-Adding to the score differential, the momentum change falling back into the Suns’ favor translated into the fourth quarter with a 16-6 stretch.
-Starting off slow, Nurkić grew into the game as it rolled on, recording his sixth double-double of the season.
-Phoenix turned the ball over 13 times while the Trail Blazers gave the ball away 11 times. Portland outrebounded the Suns 48-46 and outscored them 50-44 in the paint.
-While Portland suffered defeat, all five starters scored in double-digits and Deni Avdija provided 17 of the team’s 36 bench points.
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Suns, ASU Athletics and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
