Trail Blazers’ defense has no answers for Phoenix Suns during 120-107 loss: ‘That’s just an elite team’

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton (2) backs down Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during the first half of an NBA In-Season Tournament basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in Phoenix.

For several minutes in the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns Tuesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers flashed a show of brilliance that got them back into their game and reminded us what this team can look like when things are going well.

The Blazers used a 21-4 run to turn a 17-point deficit into a 42-42 tie at the 6:07 mark of the second quarter and trailed just 56-51 at halftime.

But nothing about that run screamed “sustainable,” and the Blazers ultimately lost 120-107.

The Blazers, the worst three-point shooting team in the NBA, hit on 7 of 14 threes in the quarter and the Suns, led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, shot just 27.8% from the field.

So, it was no surprise that the vastly superior Suns got their act together and won the game despite the Blazers giving their best effort to somewhat stick around.

In the end, the Blazers certainly looked far better than they did during Sunday’s 134-91 loss to Oklahoma City.

“I thought we played very well,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters at the Footprint Center. “You guys heard how I felt about the last game. I felt like we got back to being who we are. We’re a tough, scrappy team that just don’t let go of the rope. I thought we did that tonight.”

The Blazers welcomed back guard Malcolm Brogdon, who missed five games with a hamstring injury. He scored 11 points during that strong second quarter and finished with 19 points and five assists.

“Obviously, it was really good having Malcolm back,” Billups said. “Somebody that can just settle us down out there.”

Center Deandre Ayton returned to Phoenix where he played five seasons and clearly took the matchup to heart. He scored 10 points during an aggressive first quarter and finished with 18 with eight rebounds and four assists.

“I thought DA played really well,” Billups said. “I was concerned about his nerves in this game. I know how emotional this game could be.”

Ayton hit on 9 of 14 shots but attempted just three in the second half.

The Blazers were led with 26 from Jerami Grant who hit on 5 of 8 threes.

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is double-teamed by Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath (26) and forward Justin Minaya during the first half of an NBA In-Season Tournament basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in Phoenix.

But that trio proved no match for the Suns’ offense, which shot 56.6% from the field, racked up 26 assists and generated 28 free throws with 27 makes. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 31 points with nine assists while Devin Booker finished with 28 points and six assists. Combined, they shot 22 of 41 from the field.

“That’s just an elite team that will be contending for a championship this year,” Billups said. “They outlasted us, but I thought we, for the most part, I thought we play well.”

WHAT IT MEANS

The Blazers (3-11) fell to 1-3 in the In-Season Tournament, for what that’s worth. The loss knocked the Blazers into a tie for the worst record in the Western Conference with San Antonio (3-11). The Blazers have now lost eight consecutive games and have not won a road game since Nov. 1 at Detroit (110-101).

SHAEDON SHARPE STRUGGLES

Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe has been in a bit of a funk lately and that continued at Phoenix. He shot just 3 of 13 from the field for 10 points and missed all five of his three-point attempts. He also committed four turnovers.

Over his last five games, Sharpe has shot 24 of 66 from the field (36.4%).

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Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Nassir Little (25) during the first half of an NBA In-Season Tournament basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) APAP
NURKIC AND LITTLE

Jusuf Nurkic and Nassir Little, both traded to the Suns in the deal that brought Ayton and Toumani Camara to the Blazers, made their impact in this game.

Nurkic started slowly but made his biggest mark in the third quarter when he scored 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting and had six rebounds. His final numbers had him with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Little, meanwhile, came off the bench and in 22 minutes hit on 4 of 6 shots for 13 points and pulled down five rebounds.