On Thursday night, despite missing several key players, the Phoenix Suhs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 122-111.
Both Bradley Beal and Drew Eubanks were late withdrawals; Beal with back discomfort and Eubanks with an ankle sprain.
Phoenix’s starting lineup started the game with a terrific offensive chemistry but struggled to get any significant stops.
In his first game with the Suns, Jordan Goodwin had an immediate impression with a layup and a disruptive defensive effort that led to two thefts at the 3:28 mark of the first quarter. Udoke Azubuike had a rough day in his three minutes of playing time during a quiet first half for the Suns’ bench players.
Malcolm Brogdon and Jerami Grant have helped Portland to a 40-37 first-quarter advantage.
After starting the game 4-for-12, Durant finally got going late in the second quarter by draining a crucial three-pointer off a dish from Devin Booker.
The Suns went on a tremendous run to close out the first half and take a 76-55 lead into halftime, which coincided with Kevin Durant’s three-pointer. The Suns also appeared more confident defensively, as seen by the number of shots they blocked and the number of shots they deflected.
Booker, Eric Gordon, and Jusuf Nurkic particularly stood out. The three players decided to call it a night at halftime after scoring 55 points between them. Durant scored 16 more, converting on two of his final three shots.
The Suns began the third quarter by starting Saben Lee, Yuta Watanabe, Little, Chemeize Metu, and Emmanuel Azubuike. Vogel may use this lineup to test out different combinations and determine the extent to which his starting five can adapt. Little, like many other Blazers who have just returned to Portland, has been a catalyst for the team.
Even with Little’s stellar performance, the Suns gave up 11 points to Portland in the half’s opening minutes.
Unfortunately, the momentum the starting built up at the end of the half was not carried over as the second half was completely driven by the bench. Scoot Henderson had an outstanding final period, scoring 22 points.
The Suns take a 91-88 advantage into the final quarter, after Portland cut their deficit to just 3.
Goodwin was reinserted by Coach Vogel to start the fourth quarter, and his presence and enthusiasm were immediately noticeable. The ex-Wizard had excellent composure while directing the offense and completed a dribble-drive with a gorgeous euro. Keon Johnson also showed some dunk prowess, making both of his attempts from close range.
The Suns used these high-quality contributions to fuel an 18-3 run to kick off the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to nearly 20 points once more. As a result of the run, Suns coach Chauncey Billups called a timeout.
The night ended with a 122-111 victory for Phoenix. On Monday at Footprint center, there will be a rematch with Portland. The first tip is set for 7 PM, Arizona time.
