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 25-point victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, were defeated by the Blazers 127-108.
With 59 points between them, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant of the Suns were the top two players on the court.
However, the Blazers outperformed Phoenix’s All-Star pair by using seven players who scored in double figures while playing in the paint.
Coach Chauncey Billups of the Blazers stated that they are simply playing together. Just playing together is what we’ve been emphasizing the entire time. Play as quickly as you can.
The Blazers, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 125–112 on Tuesday night thanks to a similar team effort.
In the painted area, the Blazers scored 66 points against the Suns, while the Suns only scored 32.
Portland also played excellent basketball, scoring 17 points off of the Suns’ 13 turnovers so far and committing just three turnovers in the first three quarters. 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 added nine assists and 13 points after coming off the bench.
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
Portland led 34-33 early in the second quarter after building a nine-point lead in the first. The Blazers led 61-46 at the break after dominating the second half.
The Blazers shot 40% from three-point range (6 of 15), led by Simons’ 14 points in the half, while the Suns shot 18.8% (3 of 16).
The Suns shot 58.8% in the third quarter but had six turnovers, which allowed Portland to score 13 fast-break baskets. In contrast, the Blazers scored 22 points in the paint compared to two for the Suns.
Just nine turnovers were made by the Blazers, who rank 27th in the NBA with an average of 16.3 per game.
Billups stated, “We had three at the half and didn’t turn it over at all in the third quarter.” For us, that is impressive. In my opinion, that simply indicates that we are playing quickly and freely.
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.
In an attempt to keep the Suns from regaining the game, the Blazers increased their defensive pressure in the fourth quarter.
Given that they played last night, we wanted to attempt to wear on this team, Billups stated. When you catch a team back-to-back, you want to wear them down as much as possible. I believed we adhered to that.
Durant scored 22 points, while Booker led the Suns with 37. The Suns committed 19 turnovers and had a 30.3% three-point shooting percentage.
During the third quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers’ game against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center on February 1, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, Toumani Camara #33 of the team hangs on the rim after dunking the ball. The Trail Blazers from Portland prevailed 127-108. (Image courtesy of Getty Images/Alika Jenner)Getty Pictures
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
After missing Thursday night’s victory over the Orlando Magic due to an ankle injury sustained against the Bucks on Tuesday, Jerami Grant made a comeback.
Grant scored 20 points on 5 of 10 shots after Billups substituted him for Henderson.
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)
