The Portland Trail Blazers, who have now won seven of their last eight games, continued their unexpected winning ways Saturday night at the Moda Center with their second-most spectacular victory.
The Phoenix Suns, who had won 10 of their previous 14 games, including a 130-105 victory at the Golden State Warriors on Friday, were defeated by the Blazers 127-108.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Suns’ two greatest players on the court, scored 57 points between them.
However, with seven players scoring in double digits while residing in the paint, the Blazers outperformed that pair.
The Blazers, led by Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 125–112 on Tuesday night thanks to a comparable team effort.
In the painted area, the Blazers scored 66 points against the Suns, while the Suns only managed 32.
In addition to playing excellent basketball, Portland only committed three turnovers in the first three quarters, scoring 17 points off of the Suns’ 13 turnovers up to that point. In the end, the Blazers committed nine turnovers.
The centerAgainst his old squad, Deandre Ayton led the Blazers with 24 points and seven rebounds. He made 11 out of 12 field goals.Anfernee Simons had seven assists and 16 goals.
Scoot Henderson scored 13 points and dished out nine assists after coming off the bench.
Oregon led 34-33 early in the second quarter after building a nine-point advantage in the first. The Blazers led 61-46 at the break after dominating the second half.
In the first half of an NBA basketball game on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) defends while Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives to the basket. (Photo by Amanda Loman/AP) APAP
The Suns shot 18.8% (3 of 16) from three-point range, while Portland, paced by Simons’ 14 points in the half, hit 40% (6 of 15).
The Suns shot 58.8% in the third quarter but had six turnovers, which allowed Portlnad to score 13 fast break points. In contrast, the Blazers scored 22 points in the paint compared to two for the Suns.
Before Sharpe scored on a dunk after a steal, the Blazers led 82-64. With 3:49 left in the first, the Blazers led 86-66 after another Suns error resulted in an Ayton jumper in the lane on a Henderson assist.
IMPORTANCE OF IT
Now is the time to focus on the standings.
The Blazers (20-29) pulled within four games of Sacramento (24-24), who fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder (38-9) 144-110 to take 10th place.
Each conference’s seventh through tenth-place teams advance to the play-in round.
Suns (25-23) dropped to ninth place. Just ahead of the Blazers in 12th place are the San Antonio Spurs (21-25). In eleventh place are the Warriors (24-24).
RETURNS OF GRANT
Moving forward After missing Thursday night’s victory over the Orlando Magic due to an ankle injury sustained against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Jerami Grant is back.
Henderson was replaced by Chauncey Billups, who scored 20 points on 5 of 10 shots.
UPCOMING
On Monday, the Blazers will host the Suns once more at 7 p.m.
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Aaron J. Fentress | [email protected]|@AaronJFentress (Facebook), @AaronFentress (Instagram), and @AaronJFentress (Twitter)
