The night of the Phoenix Suns’ 120-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers was noteworthy for a number of reasons.
The Suns improved to 8-6 on the season by extending their winning run to four games. Portland’s record slipped to 3-11 after they lost eight straight games.
For Phoenix to maintain their chances of making the postseason tournament, it was also a crucial night. To advance to the knockout stages, they’ll need to win on Friday in Memphis in addition to some additional good fortune.
Deandre Ayton was traded to Portland, and tonight was his formal return to the Valley. After a quick tribute video from the team, he finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Jusuf Nurkic, his center opponent, recorded a double-double for Phoenix with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks.
In the first quarter, Kevin Durant moved up to eleventh place all-time in NBA scoring. He finished with four rebounds, nine assists, one block, and a game-high 31 points—his fourth straight game with at least 30 points.
In addition to three rebounds, six assists, and 28 points on 9–20 shooting, Devin Booker had a great night. Again, Nassir Little provided Phoenix with valuable minutes off the bench while dishing up five assists and 13 points.
In the first quarter, the Suns dominated the Trail Blazers 34–21 while making 14–18 shots. While Portland made just 9–25 shots in the first half of the game, 10 of their points came from the fastbreak.
The Suns restored their lead to lead 56-51 at the half, but the Trail Blazers finally found their footing in the second quarter and leveled the game after an 18-6 run.
With its players on the court, the Suns had a huge talent differential, and it didn’t take long for them to grab a double-digit lead to begin the second half. They would go on to finish with a 94-82 edge.
The Suns won their fourth straight game in which they have scored 120 points, holding off a couple early baskets from Portland until the final buzzer sounded. On the night, they were ahead by as many as 18.
