Phoenix Suns avoid late collapse against Portland Trail Blazers

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have been behind by glaring leads on both sides, but have also built huge leads heading into the 2024-25 season.

Even though the Suns were clear favorites over the Portland Trail Blazers, history repeated itself again.

Phoenix avoided a late collapse and ultimately defeated Portland 103–97 to improve to 5–1 on the season after leading by as many as 26 points that night.

Both teams got off to a poor start, going 3/19 overall. The Suns’ 8-2 run to end the first quarter gave them a 22-18 lead after the game’s first 12 minutes. Devin Booker was the leading scorer with six points.

It didn’t take long for Phoenix to find their footing early in the second, taking a double-digit lead thanks to a 3-pointer from Kevin Durant (who also officially made his 10,000th field goal attempt) that went up by 11 and forced Portland to call a timeout. out.

However, that timeout proved vital as Phoenix slowly saw their lead slip away before halftime, falling to the Trail Blazers 47-43. The Suns made just 12 field goals in the first half, despite Durant leading the team in scoring with 14 goals.

With Ayton struggling from the field (2-10 shooting midway through the third), the Suns built their largest lead of the game (13) after starting the third quarter up 18-7. Phoenix continued their strong shooting (they had 40 three-point attempts before the end of the third), eventually extending their lead to 20 points before heading into the fourth 87-65.

The Suns outscored Portland 44–18 in the third quarter.

Despite the large deficit, the Trail Blazers held on and went on a 24-4 scoring run to tie the game to within eight points with three minutes remaining.

Before you knew it, Portland was down by just two with a minute left. Booker eventually got to the free throw line to put the Suns up by six points in a matter of seconds and saw Phoenix come away with the victory.

Kevin Durant – 21 points, nine rebounds
Devin Booker – 28 points, nine assists, nine rebounds
Grayson Allen – 18 points, three blocks

Jerami Grant – 20 points, seven rebounds
Deandre Ayton – 10 points, 13 rebounds

The Suns will stay home to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.