Game Preview: Suns return home to face off against the Blazers!

After an impressive 4-1 start to the season, the Suns are showing they’re a force to be reckoned with. Can they cruise past the Blazers tonight and keep the momentum going?

Who: Portland Trail Blazers (2-4) @ Phoenix Suns (4-1)

When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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The Phoenix Suns are off to a strong start in the West with a 4-1 record, including a couple of comeback wins. Their victory against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night was a sweet surprise for fans who may have tuned out early. Last season might still leave a bad taste, but this team feels different.

This year, rookie Ryan Dunn is bringing a fresh energy to the Suns—not only with his aggressive defense and three-point shooting but also with his strong presence in the locker room. It’s a dynamic that simply wasn’t there last season.

With all the comebacks and the positive energy on and off the court, a break to play a team like the Portland Trail Blazers could be just what the Suns need. The Blazers are expected to be at the bottom of the standings by season’s end and are coming off a back-to-back, having lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.

Projected Starting Lineups

Injury Report

Suns

• Bradley Beal — QUESTIONABLE (Right Elbow Sprain)

Blazers

• Robert Williams — OUT
• Shaedon Sharpe — OUT
• Matisse Thybulle — OUT

Uniform Matchup

What To Watch For

The Three-Point Game

The NBA is currently on fire from behind the arc, and the Suns and Blazers are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of three-point shooting percentage. The Suns rank fourth in the league, shooting 39%, but are only 13th in attempts. Meanwhile, the Blazers are struggling with confidence from deep, shooting just 33%. However, they’re making an effort to involve everyone, as nine different players attempted at least one three-pointer in their recent win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Blazers are looking to rebound from a slow start this season. Though they are predicted to be one of the league’s weakest teams, the season is long, and they may need to start heating up from beyond the arc sooner rather than later — perhaps even starting tonight.

Ayton and Scoot

We’re used to seeing Ayton consistently put up double-doubles, and he started this season with one in each of the first five games — until last night against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Like his three-point shooting, Ayton’s overall performance has been below expectations, averaging only 14.4 points per game.

Scoot has made noticeable improvements in his shooting, particularly from behind the arc on catch-and-shoot attempts, where he’s now hitting 50%. Overall, he’s shooting 44% from the field, a significant boost from last year’s 38% field-goal percentage and 30% on catch-and-shoot threes.

The Rookie Clingan

Suns rookie Dunn isn’t the only one impressing early this season; Blazers rookie Donovan Clingan is also making a strong impact in limited minutes. Heading into last night’s game against Oklahoma City, Clingan ranked first among rookies, shooting 63% from the field, and was second in rebounds (5.8) and blocks (1.8), all while averaging only 12.7 minutes per game. He’ll be looking to make his presence felt again tonight, and it will be interesting to see how the Suns manage the paint against him, with Mason Plumlee likely to match up against him.

But as you can see there is still a lot to learn and a reason why his minutes are limited.

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Prediction

“The Suns have started the season strong with a 5-1 record, securing their latest win in a comfortable 113-98 victory.” That’ll be the headline.