Game ID: 22400694
Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers
Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM ET
Moda Center, Portland, OR
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
POR 31 30 37 29 127PHX 27 19 33 29 108
PHX @ POR ScoutingPHX @ POR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
POR availability going into 1/24 · back-to-backOUT Thybulle missed 44 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Clingan missed 5 since 1/16, returns tonight: 18 min (89% of 20)
BACK Grant back 1/18 after 9, 31 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Avdija back 1/19 after 3, 33 min since (111% of 30)
BACK Williams III back 1/16 after 3, 19 min since (107% of 18)
BACK Reath back 1/23 after 2, 2 min since (20% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/26 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 2 since 1/23, out tonight
OUT Thybulle missed 45 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Grant back 1/18 after 9, 31 min since (97% of 32)
BACK Avdija back 1/19 after 3, 33 min since (111% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 1/24 after 5, 18 min since (89% of 20)
BACK Reath back 1/23 after 2, 2 min since (20% of 10)
POR availability going into 1/28 · 1 day's restOUT Ayton missed 3 since 1/23, returns tonight: 34 min (114% of 30)
OUT Thybulle missed 46 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Reath missed 2 since 1/24, returns tonight: 1 min (12% of 10)
BACK Avdija back 1/19 after 3, 34 min since (114% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 1/24 after 5, 19 min since (96% of 20)
POR availability going into 1/30 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 47 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/28 after 3, 34 min since (114% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 1/24 after 5, 16 min since (82% of 20)
BACK Reath back 1/23 after 2, 2 min since (16% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/01 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 48 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 2 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/28 after 3, 34 min since (114% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 1/24 after 5, 14 min since (71% of 20)
BACK Reath back 1/23 after 2, 2 min since (23% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 49 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 3 since 1/28, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/28 after 3, 34 min since (113% of 30)
BACK Clingan back 1/24 after 5, 13 min since (68% of 20)
BACK Reath back 1/28 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 10)
POR availability going into 2/04 · back-to-backOUT Thybulle missed 50 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Williams III missed 4 since 1/28, returns tonight: 24 min (136% of 18)
OUT Banton missed 2 since 2/01, returns tonight: 2 min (14% of 17)
BACK Ayton back 1/28 after 3, 36 min since (120% of 30)
BACK Reath back 1/28 after 2, 3 min since (27% of 10)
NEW Camara 33 to 38 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 2/06 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 51 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Ayton back 1/28 after 3, 33 min since (110% of 30)
BACK Williams III back 2/04 after 4, 24 min since (136% of 18)
BACK Banton back 2/04 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 17)
BACK Reath back 1/28 after 2, 3 min since (26% of 10)
NEW Camara 33 to 38 min over the last 5
POR availability going into 2/08 · 1 day's restOUT Thybulle missed 52 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Williams III back 2/04 after 4, 24 min since (136% of 18)
BACK Banton back 2/04 after 2, 6 min since (37% of 17)
PHX availability going into 1/25 · 2 days' restOUT Nurkić missed 8 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 25 min since (77% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
NEW Dunn 19 to 25 min over the last 5
PHX availability going into 1/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 9 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (99% of 32)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 3 min since (21% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/16 after 2, 12 min since (94% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/16 after 6, 6 min since (44% of 12)
PHX availability going into 1/29 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 10 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Ighodaro missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 17)
OUT Gillespie missed 2 since 1/25, returns tonight: 0 min (2% of 14)
OUT Morris missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
OUT Bol missed 2 since 1/25, out tonight
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
PHX availability going into 1/31 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 11 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Morris missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 13)
OUT Bol missed 3 since 1/25, returns tonight: 5 min (38% of 12)
BACK Beal back 1/20 after 2, 30 min since (95% of 32)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 0 min since (2% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (12% of 14)
PHX availability going into 2/01 · back-to-backOUT Nurkić missed 12 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (15% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/22 after 39, 2 min since (18% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/03 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 13 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/05 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 14 since 1/09, out tonight
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (19% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 3 min since (22% of 14)
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 5 min since (38% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/07 · 1 day's restOUT Nurkić missed 15 since 1/09, not on tonight's roster
OUT Morris missed 2 since 2/03, returns tonight: 15 min (116% of 13)
BACK Ighodaro back 1/29 after 2, 5 min since (27% of 17)
BACK Gillespie back 1/29 after 2, 4 min since (31% of 14)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 6 min since (48% of 12)
PHX availability going into 2/08 · back-to-backOUT Durant missed 2 since 2/05, out tonight
BACK Morris back 1/31 after 3, 8 min since (64% of 13)
BACK Bol back 1/31 after 3, 11 min since (84% of 12)
NEW Allen 24 to 29 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 99, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 29 free throws a game; Avdija at 20 and Simons at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Thybulle (48 straight), Williams III (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Booker at 27 and Durant at 26 a game. Without Nurkić (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 29 free throws a game to Phoenix's 18 and the defense, Portland allowing 99 a night to Phoenix's 106. Call it Portland 112, Phoenix 108, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/24 @ CHA 102-97 — POR notes
POR won 102-97. POR shot 41% (32 of 79) to CHA's 38%, 11 of 38 from three, and went to the line 39 times to CHA's 28 — 27 points from the stripe to their 24. Simons led with 27 (8 of 16, 4 of 10 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Grant added 22, Avdija 18. The hinge was Q4, 29-22: POR came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 5. POR trailed 50-54 at the half and won the second half 52-43. Simons was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
1/26 vs OKC 108-118 — POR notes
POR lost 108-118. POR shot 41% (33 of 81) to OKC's 47%, 18 of 40 from three. POR turned it over 15 times to OKC's 7. Avdija led with 28 (9 of 16, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Henderson added 25, Camara 24. Q4 was theirs, 30-25, the deficit cut from 15 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 93-78 against them. They led by as many as 10. Sharpe's -28 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/28 vs MIL 125-112 — POR notes
POR won 125-112. POR shot 51% (45 of 88) to MIL's 51%, 12 of 28 from three, and went to the line 28 times to MIL's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 52-36 for them. Avdija led with 30 (10 of 18, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 9 at the line); Simons added 25, Ayton 21. The hinge was Q2, 33-25: POR came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 3, and the lead reached 19. Camara was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
1/30 vs ORL 119-90 — POR notes
POR won 119-90. POR shot 53% (41 of 78) to ORL's 42%, 12 of 25 from three, and went to the line 31 times to ORL's 20 — 25 points from the stripe to their 17. Sharpe led with 23 (9 of 14, 3 of 6 from three); Henderson added 23, Ayton 22. The hinge was Q2, 34-18: POR came in trailing by 7 and left it ahead by 9, and the lead reached 30. Ayton was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
2/01 vs PHX 127-108 — POR notes
POR won 127-108. POR shot 52% (46 of 89) to PHX's 45%, 9 of 31 from three. POR turned it over 9 times to PHX's 18. Ayton led with 24 (11 of 12); Grant added 20, Camara 18. The hinge was Q2, 30-19: a lead of 4 became 15, and the lead reached 27. Henderson was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
2/03 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 31 free throws a game; Ayton at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thybulle (49 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the defense, Portland allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Portland 114, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/04 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 30 free throws a game; Ayton at 23 and Avdija at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Thybulle (50 straight), Williams III (4 straight), Banton (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Haliburton at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Isa. Jackson (42 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Indiana minus-10 and the line, where Portland takes 30 free throws a game to Indiana's 20. Call it Portland 117, Indiana 115, Indiana keeping it close.
2/06 vs SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 104, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 27 free throws a game; Ayton at 20 and Simons at 17 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Thybulle (51 straight). One day's rest. Sacramento comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 30 from three, 22 free throws a game; Fox at 23 and DeRozan at 21 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 104 a night to Sacramento's 120 and the glass, where Portland has been plus-9 a night and Sacramento minus-1. Call it Portland 118, Sacramento 109.
2/08 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 37 and Reid at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Randle (4 straight), DiVincenzo (12 straight). One day's rest. Portland comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 102, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Ayton at 19 and Sharpe at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thybulle (52 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Portland allowing 102 a night to Minnesota's 111. Call it Minnesota 113, Portland 111, Portland keeping it close.
1/25 vs WAS 119-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 119-109. PHX shot 44% (40 of 90) to WAS's 47%, 13 of 40 from three, and went to the line 28 times to WAS's 9 — 26 points from the stripe to their 7. The glass went 53-37 for them. Durant led with 29 (11 of 19, 5 of 8 from three); Beal added 20, Richards 20. The hinge was Q1, 35-24: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Durant was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
1/27 vs LAC 111-109 — PHX notes
PHX won 111-109. PHX shot 47% (40 of 85) to LAC's 49%, 22 of 47 from three, and got to the line 11 times to LAC's 20. Booker led with 26 (9 of 21, 5 of 10 from three); Durant added 24, Allen 18. The hinge was Q2, 26-17: a lead of 4 became 13. Plumlee was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/29 vs MIN 113-121 — PHX notes
PHX lost 113-121. PHX took 10 more shots (85 to 75), fed by 10 offensive rebounds, but shot 51% to MIN's 56%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 20 times to MIN's 27. Durant led with 33 (13 of 19, 4 of 8 from three); Booker added 28, Beal 17. Q1 was theirs, 29-22, but the other 3 periods went 99-84 against them. They led by as many as 12. Plumlee's -15 in 15 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/31 @ GSW 130-105 — PHX notes
PHX won 130-105. PHX shot 56% (50 of 89) to GSW's 38%, 19 of 39 from three, and got to the line 16 times to GSW's 25. Booker led with 31 (12 of 23, 5 of 11 from three); Beal added 21, Durant 19. The hinge was Q2, 32-24: a lead of 3 became 11, and the lead reached 29. Booker was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
2/01 @ POR 108-127 — PHX notes
PHX lost 108-127. PHX shot 45% (38 of 84) to POR's 52%, 10 of 33 from three. PHX turned it over 18 times to POR's 9, and POR turned those into 11 steals. Booker led with 37 (11 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Durant added 22, Beal 13. Q4 was theirs, 29-29, but the other 3 periods went 98-79 against them. Durant's -22 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/03 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 105, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 31 free throws a game; Ayton at 22 and Avdija at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Thybulle (49 straight), Williams III (3 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 114, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 28 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the line, where Portland takes 31 free throws a game to Phoenix's 20 and the defense, Portland allowing 105 a night to Phoenix's 114. Call it Portland 114, Phoenix 111, Phoenix keeping it close.
2/05 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 36 and Jal. Williams at 28 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Jal. Williams (2 straight), Holmgren (38 straight), Caruso (2 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Booker at 31 and Durant at 25 a game. Without Nurkić (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the glass, where OKC has been plus-10 a night and Phoenix minus-3 and the turnovers, Phoenix giving it away 16 times a game to OKC's 12. Call it OKC 119, Phoenix 109, OKC by 10.
2/07 vs UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 30 and Durant at 25 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Nurkić (15 straight). One day's rest. Utah comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Clarkson at 21 and Collins at 19 a game. Without Hendricks (46 straight), Williams (8 straight), Tshiebwe (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-3 a night and Phoenix minus-4. Call it Phoenix 118, Utah 114, Utah keeping it close.
2/08 vs DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Durant at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Durant (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 112, shooting 54 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Porter Jr. at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Westbrook (4 straight), Watson (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-6 a night and Phoenix minus-7 and the defense, Denver allowing 112 a night to Phoenix's 124. Call it Denver 121, Phoenix 116.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
PORAS A. Simons
BM B. McGowens
DA D. Avdija
DA D. Ayton
DC D. Clingan
DR D. Reath
JG J. Grant
JW J. Walker
KM K. Murray
RR R. Rupert
SH S. Henderson
SS S. Sharpe
TC T. Camara
PHXBB B. Beal
BB B. Bol
CG C. Gillespie
DB D. Booker
DL D. Lee
GA G. Allen
KD K. Durant
MM M. Morris
MP M. Plumlee
NR N. Richards
OI O. Ighodaro
RD R. Dunn
RO R. O'Neale
TJ T. Jones
POR/PHX the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Deandre Ayton leads Trail Blazers to 127-108 victory over Suns in opener of 2-game set
PORTLAND, Ore. -- — Deandre Ayton had 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting against his former team and the Portland Trail Blazers opened a two-game set against the Phoenix Suns with a 127-108 victory Saturday night.
The teams will meet again Monday night in Portland.
Jerami Grant added 20 points for Portland, and Toumani Camara had 18 points.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 37 points, and Kevin Durant had 22. The Suns were on the second night of a back-to-back after beating Golden State 130-105 on Friday.
After Portland took a 61-46 halftime lead, Booker was fouled on a 3-pointer on the first play after halftime, sparking a personal run of 15 straight Phoenix points. Durant's 3-pointer — the first non-Booker points in the quarter for Phoenix — made it 74-64, but that was as close as the Suns got in the period.
Takeaways Suns: Phoenix center Nick Richards has made his presence felt during his first seven games since coming over in a trade from Charlotte. “He gives us a presence inside. A guy that can come and block shots, rebounds and handle the glass,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said.
Trail Blazers: Second-year forward Toumani Camara was named to the NBA Rising Stars roster as an injury replacement Friday. “I was obviously disappointed that he wasn’t named initially,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said.“I just think, especially for coaches, we appreciate guys like him."
Key moment Shaedon Sharpe’s windmill dunk with 4:05 left in the third quarter put the Blazers up by 18, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Key stat Portland outscored Phoenix 66-32 in the paint.