Devin Booker’s 37 points were not enough as the Phoenix Suns felt the woes of a back-to-back in 127-108 loss to Portland Trail Blazers.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Booker scored 18 of his 37 points in the third quarter, but that is about all the Suns got tonight. Kevin Durant had a slow start and finished with 22 points (9-18 FG), and Bradley Beal was the only other Suns in double figures with 13 points.
Portland had seven players score in double figures, led by former Suns big man Deandre Ayton with 24 points (11-12 FG) and Jerami Grant with 20 points and three assists.
Phoenix (25-22) plays the Trail Blazers again on Monday in the penultimate game of the road trip.
Booker goes nuclear, Suns fall further in 3rd quarter
Devin Booker went ballistic, scoring 18 of his 30 points in the third quarter, but didn’t get anything from his teammates as Phoenix fell further, 98-79.
Booker scored the Suns’ first 15 points of the quarter. He only got seven from Durant, five from Bradley Beal and three from Grayson Allen in the third quarter. Phoenix committed six turnovers in the period, each more momentum-killing than the last.
Seven Trail Blazers scored in the third quarter, led by Deandre Ayton, who scored nine of his 20 game-leading points in the period. Including Ayton, seven Portland players scored in double figures ahead of the final quarter.
Simons, Blazers create separation in 2nd quarter
Portland guard Anfernee Simons erupted for 12 of his 14 points in the second quarter to give Portland a hefty lead over the Suns, 61-46.
Phoenix shot 8-for-22 (36.4%) in the quarter for just 19 points. Devin Booker led the Suns with 13 points (5-8 FG) going into halftime, Kevin Durant followed with 12. No other Sun scored over double-digits.
Feb 1, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers small forward Deni Avdija (8) is helped up by teammates after scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Portland controls pace over Suns in 1st quarter
Phoenix felt the woes of a back-to-back early as the Trail Blazers came out running to control the pace and lead the Suns in the first quarter, 31-27.
Kevin Durant started the game 0-for4 from the field but quickly turned around and scored 11 points to lead the Suns in the first quarter. Devin Booker and Tyus Jones controlled the first shift with six points each. Nick Richards once again took early control of the boards, grabbing seven rebounds in the opening quarter.
Seven Trail Blazers scored a bucket to open the game, led by Scoot Henderson with seven points.
Feb 1, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
Injury report
The Suns yet again had an empty injury report, with their only players listed being Jalen Bridges and TyTy Washington Jr. who are with the G League Valley Suns.
For Portland, Jerami Grant (right ankle soreness) was questionable ahead of the game and was later made available. Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) and Robert Williams III (right hand soreness) were out.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
