Devin Booker scored 34 and Bradley Beal added 23 as the Phoenix Suns win but young Blazers shine. Phoenix would pull away late, rising to 21-18 while Portland’s rebuilding project rolls on at 10-29.
The Suns missed Bol Bol with a foot injury, but were otherwise meaningfully healthy in a season dotted by missed time. The young Blazers, meanwhile, were able to play due to a laundry list injury report.
Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle both sat out due to illness; Shaedon Sharpe and Malcolm Brogdon both nursed thigh strains; Ibou Badji dealt with a hip contusion and Deandre Ayton continues to work his way back from knee tendinitis.
Star Efforts
Devin Booker and Bradley Beal continued their run as the backcourt that was promised since Phoenix acquired the ex-Washtington guard in the offseason. Booker would do the lionshare of the scoring for the Suns, scoring 34 points, shooting 9-13 from the floor. He had seven assists and six rebounds.
Beal notched his 23 points on even better efficiency, 9-13, along with five assists and four rebounds. Kevin Durant did his damage early and late, finishing with 21 points on 8-16, six assists and five rebounds and Jusuf Nurkic added a double-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds.
Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson bounced back from rough outings against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves. Simons finished with 28 points on 8-18 shooting, notching five assists and five rebounds, a solid return-to-form.
Henderson co-piloted the offense to the tune of a career-high 33 points. His near triple-double was highlighted by nine assists and seven rebounds and a 4-9 mark from beyond the arc. The only drawback came from the floor at-large, only making 11-31.
Every Game a Story: Suns Win, Young Blazers Shine
Being so severely shorthanded meant the Blazers came into the game without any obligations. It also meant the Suns had no scouting report. The first five minutes thus became a game of cat-and-mouse as both teams played to a tie while figuring each other out.
Beal and Booker were hot from the start while the Blazers found circuitous offense through Jabari Walker and Duop Reath. Simons would start making shots from beyond the arc, but it was Reath who would lead the Blazers to a 33-31 edge via his 11 points. Booker led the Suns with nine.
In the second frame, the Phoenix leaned on their experience while Portland countered with youth and gumption. Despite committing three early turnovers, the Blazers played solid defense and traded buckets with the Suns through the halfway mark. Kris Murray played his best shift of the season, finding rhythm behind the arc for 3-4 shooting.
From there, however, the Suns showed their quality. They would finish the second quarter on the back of a 23-12 run keyed by free throws and overwhelming paint presence. The Suns dominated the boards. Nurkic grabbed six rebounds of 13 and Durant and Grayson Allen found their way to the line. The Blazers would claw within five, but an Eric Gordon three-pointer sealed a 71-61 margin at halftime.
The Suns put some distance between them and their hosts in the third quarter. Booker and Nurkic started the second-half party by helping to build an 82-71 lead. The Blazers kept themselves in it with more offense from Walker and Reath.
Unfortunately, more turnovers and a suddenly hot again Beal maintained the distance for the Suns. Booker and Beal would combine for 24 in the quarter. Henderson would score late to keep the game within reach for his Blazers squad, notching 12 points.
Down 14 to enter the final frame, the youthful Blazers made a last ditch attempt to find a way back into the game. Rayan Rupert was sensational in the quarter, making 2-2 three point attempts and scrapping his way to 5 rebounds. His second three-point make with 6:50 would draw the Blazers within four.
In the end, the Suns proved too much, as Booker, Beal, Durant and Nurkic all contributed to put this game away. Each took turns to capitalize on a 16-9 run, ending the game and the Blazers’ hopes for a homecoming win, 127-116.
The Stats Are a Battlefield
Once again, the Blazers did not have a better game from the field than their opponents. They finished the game on an improved 44.9% on 40-89 to the Sun’s scalding, scorching 60.5% on 46-76. Portland did edge Phoenix on three pointers, 47.6% to 46.4%, but fell short at the line, shooting 72.7% to 81.5%.
Phoenix outrebounded their hosts 41-36, but Portland made their presence known on the offensive glass. They finishing with 12 rebounds to their guests’ seven. Despite Henderson’s nine assists, the Blazers still fell short with 23 total to the Suns’ 27. Phoenix also managed five blocks to Portland’s one, protecting the rim and taking away easy looks.
The battle of fouls, turnovers and steals was a relative tie, as the Blazers were just slightly more sloppy on-the-ball yet active in the passing lanes. The final tally comes out to 21-20, 13-12, 8-7 respectively. Murray and Henderson continued to show excellent progress playing proactive defense for the Blazers.
Where to Next?
The Portland Trail Blazers will continue a short home-stand by hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Phoenix Suns will return home to face off the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
