The Phoenix Suns continued their winning ways, securing their fourth consecutive victory with a 109-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night. Despite star player Kevin Durant’s absence due to right hamstring tightness, the Suns showcased a well-rounded team effort, with seven players scoring in double figures.
Bradley Beal led the charge with 21 points, while Jusuf Nurkic, facing his former team, added 18 points. Chimezie Metu, filling in for the sidelined Durant, contributed 14 points. Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon, coming off the bench, each scored 12 points. Devin Booker, though limited to 10 points on a 4-of-16 shooting night, provided valuable support with eight rebounds and six assists. Bol Bol also stepped up in Durant’s absence, contributing 11 points and nine rebounds.
Suns coach Frank Vogel noted that Durant had tweaked his hamstring in Sunday’s victory over Orlando and is currently considered day-to-day.
For the Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson led with 17 points. Jerami Grant added 15 points, while Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Walker each chipped in with 10 points. The Trail Blazers were missing key players, including former Phoenix center Deandre Ayton, out with right knee tendinitis, and Toumani Camara, sidelined with right knee soreness.
The game saw a competitive start, with Portland leading 29-20 after the first quarter. However, the Suns turned the game around in the second quarter, taking a permanent lead on a basket by Gordon and eventually stretching their advantage to as much as 26 points.
Nurkic and Allen joined the Suns as part of a three-way deal involving Portland and Milwaukee in September, a move that saw Ayton transfer to the Trail Blazers.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers will face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, while the Suns are set to host the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Suns’ ability to distribute scoring across the roster, especially in Durant’s absence, highlights their depth and adaptability, key factors contributing to their current winning streak.
