NBA: Suns finally beat Trail Blazers on third try this season
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after his three-point basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at Moda Center on October 21, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker scored 24 points in three quarters and the Phoenix Suns got a form of payback against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers with a convincing 102-82 victory on Saturday night.
Chris Paul added 15 points and Mikal Bridges tallied 11 as Western Conference-leading Phoenix avenged Friday night’s 108-106 loss to Portland.
Saturday’s game was the third and final meeting between the teams this season, and the Trail Blazers won two. Phoenix hasn’t lost to any other team this season.
Jerami Grant scored 14 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 13 for Portland, which is 1-1 to start a six-game road trip.
Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard (calf) missed his fourth straight game, while backcourt partner Anfernee Simons (foot) missed his second in a row.
Suns forward Cameron Johnson missed Saturday’s game after sustaining a right knee injury on Friday. The Athletic reported he has a torn meniscus, but Phoenix coach Monty Williams declined to confirm the extent of the injury prior to the contest.
The Suns shot 42.7 percent from the field, including 11 of 30 from 3-point range, while completing a 5-1 homestand.
The Trail Blazers connected on 38 percent of their field-goal attempts and were 7 of 15 from behind the arc. But Portland committed 18 turnovers to 14 for the Suns.
BLOCKED SHOT COUNTER
Craig: 👋👋👋
Biyombo: 👋👋👋
Booker: 👋👋
Ayton: 👋👋
Bridges: 👋
Okogie: 👋
Landale: 👋
Shamet: 👋 pic.twitter.com/OgQBpgRbed— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 6, 2022
Booker scored 16 points in the first half as the Suns led 61-40 at the break. Sharpe had 11 in the half for Portland.
Phoenix made 13 of 21 shots in the first quarter while taking a 35-26 lead. The Suns pulled away with a 17-3 run in the second quarter that elevated the margin to 23 with two minutes left.
Phoenix outscored the Trail Blazers 26-14 in the second quarter. In Friday’s game, Portland outscored the Suns 34-21 in the second.
The Trail Blazers weren’t able to cut into their deficit in the third quarter as they committed seven turnovers to Phoenix’s one. The Suns led 84-61 entering the final stanza.
Phoenix expanded the lead to 29 during the fourth quarter.
