Suns Drop Second Game of Season to Trail Blazers in Dramatic Fashion
PHOENIX-- It was deja vu for the Phoenix Suns.
The Portland Trail Blazers are now responsible for both losses attributed to Phoenix after defeating the Suns 106-108.
After an early 20 combined points from Ayton and Devin Booker, the Suns emerged to 28-25 lead after the first quarter. Phoenix converted five-of-seven attempts from three-point land to that point. The Suns' top duo would combine for 49 points in the loss.
Friday night's action didn't include the likes of Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons or Cameron Payne due to injury. Cam Johnson (right knee) would join them rather quickly into the first few minutes of the game, exiting after five minutes of play and shortly being ruled out after. Torrey Craig would take his place, finishing with eight points and six rebounds.
“Just based on last season he [Johnson] has made it an effort to not become the guy who gets picked on. That happened a couple times, not as much as people have written about or as much as I have heard about. I think he is diligent about being effective on the defensive end," Monty Williams said prior to the game.
"Not just on the ball, where I think he has improved immensely is the backside. Making rotations, proper reads, and pick and rolls on the backside. I think people forget he is still a young player. It is not like he is a seven or eight-year vet. He has only been in the league three, four years now.
"He certainly is a lot better, and I think he is going to grow being in the starting lineup because he is going to get more reps.”
Phoenix's defense is certainly a lot better with him on the floor as momentum quickly swung in Portland's favor after his exit, turning a three-point deficit into a lead that extended by as much as 15 before the Suns were able to cut it to ten by halftime.
After a third quarter that saw the Suns slowly but surely cut into the lead, momentum had finally appeared to swing in Phoenix's direction. The Suns drew within one point with just over seven minutes left, even with Booker on the bench taking a breather.
Damion Lee would force a Trail Blazers timeout with 4:15 left after hitting a corner-three and knotting the game at 97-97.
Trading late buckets in the winding moments of the game, it was Jerami Grant who emerged as the hero for the Blazers, knocking down a shot at the buzzer to give the Suns their second loss, both at the hands of Portland.
Seven players for the Trail Blazers would hit double-digit scoring, led by Grant who had 30 points of his own. Three of their starters (including Grant) finished with a negative plus-minus.
A win for the Suns would have tied their best start in franchise history through eight games.
Rather, Portland has won back-to-back games over the Suns for the first time since consecutive wins over Phoenix on March 9, 2019 and Dec. 16, 2019.
The Suns host the Trail Blazers again on Saturday.
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