Suns
Trail Blazers bury Suns early with 43-point first quarter in 124-83 rout
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Phoenix Suns 124-83 at Moda Center. Portland scored 43 points in the first quarter, never trailed, and led by as many as 52. The win puts the Trail Blazers at 1-0 and 5th in the West, while the Suns open 0-1 and sit 14th.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 53 min ago01The story of the nightThe first quarter decided itThe game was over almost before it started.
The game was over almost before it started. Portland outscored Phoenix 43-12 in the first quarter, and the Suns never got back into it. There were no lead changes, and Phoenix's biggest lead was 0. The Suns played better in the middle quarters, scoring 27 in the second and 27 in the third, but Portland answered with 29 and 35. It was 72-39 at halftime and 107-66 after three quarters. Both teams scored 17 in a fourth quarter that didn't matter. Portland's lead reached 52 at its peak. The Trail Blazers shot 47.9 percent from the field. The Suns shot 35.7 percent.
02Lillard leads a balanced attackDamian Lillard scored a game-high 25 points in 23.9 minutes.
Damian Lillard scored a game-high 25 points in 23.9 minutes. He made 7 of 12 shots, went 6 of 10 from three and 5 of 5 at the line, with 6 assists. Toumani Camara added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 4 of 7 from deep, and finished plus-32. Deni Avdija had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Ja Morant ran the offense with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 8 assists and 3 steals, and his plus-33 was the best on the team. Scoot Henderson scored 15 off the bench on 7-of-14 shooting. Donovan Clingan added 11 points and 7 rebounds.
03Booker alone for PhoenixDevin Booker was the only Sun who scored efficiently.
Devin Booker was the only Sun who scored efficiently. He had 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting and made all 9 of his free throws. He also finished minus-43 in 29.4 minutes. Help never came. Dillon Brooks scored 10 on 4-of-11 shooting. Jalen Green had 10 on 4-of-12. Miles Bridges scored 8 but shot 3 of 11 and missed all 5 of his threes. Collin Gillespie went 0 for 8, all from three, and committed 4 turnovers, though he also had 4 steals. Oso Ighodaro gave Phoenix a lift off the bench with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting.
04Where Portland won itThe three-point line and the glass.
The three-point line and the glass. Portland made 19 of 47 threes. Phoenix made 6 of 32. Portland outrebounded Phoenix 68-44, and Robert Williams III grabbed 10 rebounds in 15.3 minutes off the bench. The Trail Blazers had 32 assists to the Suns' 14. Portland also won the paint 50-40, fast-break points 19-10 and bench scoring 38-30. Turnovers were close, 17 for Portland and 15 for Phoenix, but the Trail Blazers did much more with theirs, scoring 24 points off turnovers to the Suns' 11. Phoenix blocked 6 shots to Portland's 1. It made no difference.
05What it meansPortland starts the season 1-0, sits 5th in the West and could hardly have asked for more from opening night.
Portland starts the season 1-0, sits 5th in the West and could hardly have asked for more from opening night. Six players scored in double figures or close to it, and the starters rested late. Phoenix leaves at 0-1 and 14th in the West, with a lot to look at. Outside of Booker, the Suns' guards and wings could not hit shots, and they lost the rebounding battle badly. A 12-point first quarter on the road put them in a hole they never climbed out of. It's one game, but the shooting and the rebounding both need fixing.
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