The Suns opened 2026-27 with a 124-83 loss at Portland and never led or tied. Kennard and Ighodaro are both day-to-day with an estimated return of October 24, the night the Warriors visit Phoenix.
Down 21-0 early. Portland opened on a 21-0 run and led 43-12 after one quarter. Jordan Ott called two timeouts in the first quarter, at 0-11 and 6-32, and neither stopped it. The Blazers built the lead to 52, and the game had zero lead changes and zero ties.
Booker held up alone. Devin Booker scored 23 in 29 minutes on 7-of-13 shooting and went 9-of-9 at the line, but he still finished at -43. The starters scored 53 points and the bench added 20. Miles Bridges shot 3-of-11 and missed all five of his threes, and Jalen Green shot 4-of-12.
Portland's guards ran it. Damian Lillard scored 25 in 24 minutes and hit six of his 10 threes. Ja Morant added 14 points, 8 assists and 3 steals at +33, in a game ESPN's recap called his Portland debut. Toumani Camara went 4-of-7 from deep and finished +32.
Rough night at center. Arizona Sports reported that Khaman Maluach started at center. He was -30 in 17 minutes. Oso Ighodaro scored 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 15 minutes before Arizona Sports reported he left with an apparent hip injury. Duop Reath was +2 in 9 minutes.
The injury list. Ighodaro is now day-to-day with a right hip issue. Luke Kennard sat out the opener and moved from out back to day-to-day with his left knee problem. Both have an estimated return of October 24. Mark Williams is still out, with an estimated return of February 3.
The cost check. Phoenix carries $213.8M in payroll, which puts it over the first apron and past the $200.4M luxury tax line. After Booker's $57.1M, the next biggest deals belong to Green at $36.3M, Bridges at $22.8M and Dillon Brooks at $20.0M. In the opener those three shot 4-of-12, 3-of-11 and 4-of-11. Can that group earn its money against Golden State?
Will Luke Kennard play against the Warriors?
He is day-to-day with a left knee issue and has an estimated return of October 24, the date of the Warriors game.
How bad was the Suns' season-opening loss?
Phoenix lost 124-83 at Portland, trailed by as many as 52 and never led or tied.
