Game Recap: Suns fend off thrilling Blazers comeback, winning 103-97

The Blazers come back down 22 taking the Suns to the brink.

Another slow start leads to another Phoenix Suns victory, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 103-97

It was closer than expected heading into the fourth quarter, but the Suns barely held on, benefiting from a few missed wide-open threes and shots around the rim by the Blazers.

Devin Booker led all scorers with 28 points and the big three combined for a total of 64 points. Hitting 17 total threes, the Suns turned things around just in time against a team at the bottom of the standings.

Grayson Allen came alive in the third quarter just when the Suns needed it, helping them build a 22-point lead after struggling in the first half, where they managed to hit only 10 shots from the field. The storyline for the Suns this season remains consistent, as they continue to start slowly but bring out their best in the second half.

With a 5-1 start to the season, the Suns are meeting the expectations set for them.

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Game Recap

First Half

The Suns’ shot selection looked great at the start of the game, with strong ball movement and spacing, but their shots just wouldn’t fall. They began 1-for-8 from the field. Fortunately, they were up against a Blazers team that was also struggling, shooting only 2-for-8. Midway through the first quarter, the Suns were down 7-6 in what was turning out to be a very slow start.

Returning to Phoenix for the first time this season, Deandre Ayton was not welcomed.

Unable to push ahead and extend their lead beyond four, the Suns continued working in the paint but struggled to finish. They were missing shots from all areas of the floor, including close-range attempts. The Blazers took a slight edge with an early 6-2 lead in points in the paint and capitalized on all four free throws, including two and-1s.

The Suns’ play was excruciating to watch as they started committing turnovers at the end of the first quarter with poorly timed passes. Despite this, they managed to hold onto a 22-18 lead going into the second quarter. The Suns finished the quarter shooting just 30% from the field with six made shots, while the Blazers shot 21% with the same number of makes. Overall, it was a rough first quarter for both teams.

Entering the second quarter and after watching this sequence, the low-scoring first quarter was quickly forgotten as Durant scored six swift points.

Once again, the Suns hit a slump. However, tensions began to rise between Jusuf Nurkic and Deandre Ayton, with Nurkic trying to back Ayton down in the post. Although he came up empty, it was a nice gesture and perhaps Nurkic’s way of winning back Suns fans. The crowd needed something to cheer for, and this rivalry brought some excitement, if only for a moment.

Then, it was back to missed shots—lots of them. Brick after brick, the Suns struggled to maintain a small lead, up only 39-35 with about four minutes left. At that point, they had made just 10 shots total—only four more in the second quarter. Things were getting wild.

By wild, I mean, the Blazers ended the half strong and finally took the lead from the Suns entering the half 47-43.

The Suns’ first-half stats were as ugly as it gets. They shot just 27% from the field, 30% from three, and turned the ball over eight times while recording only nine assists.

Second Half

The Suns quickly surged to a 61-54 lead to start the third quarter, rallying behind Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, who each knocked down a couple of threes alongside strong defense. The energy was picking up, and the Suns were starting to make up for their first-half mistakes.

And of course, don’t forget the last part of the big three, Booker.

Great ball movement was key to the Suns creating quality shots. While they focused on shots from beyond the arc, they also applied stifling defense that led to a few fast breaks, forcing the Blazers to call a timeout with 3:54 left in the third. Unlike the first half, the Suns were hitting their shots, allowing them to build a 74-58 lead.

Even Nurkic got in on the action.

Grayson Allen capped off the third quarter with 16 points, marking his best quarter of the season so far. He was active on defense and crashing the boards to contribute to team’s rebounding. With him leading the charge, the Suns were able to push their lead to 87-65 entering the fourth quarter.

Maintaining their distance, the Suns made difficult shots and showcased great team play, while the Blazers struggled to gain any traction. With the game seemingly out of reach, fans began chanting for Bol Bol, eager to see his first minutes of the season.

Instead, the Suns found themselves more concerned with fending off one last run from the Blazers, who managed to cut the lead to nine points with three minutes left in the game. With a few made threes, the Blazers closed the gap to just two points with a minute remaining. The Suns, who thought they had the game secured, let the Blazers back in, barely escaping with the help of a few missed wide-open threes.

The Suns woke up just in time to hold the lead, defeating the Blazers 103-97.

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Up Next?

The Suns will host the 1-4 Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night at Footprint Center. Will Joel Embiid be playing? Who knows…but the drama is coming to the Valley…