Sols up double digits with balanced scoring, defense

On December 16, 2024By Littum

The Phoenix Suns (13-11) hosted by Portland Trail Blazers (8-17) Sunday at 18, in the Footprint Center. The game will be televised on Arizona’s Family (3TV) in Phoenix.

The game is the first of a three-game homestand this week for Phoenix, which is coming off a 134-126 victory Friday at Utah in Kevin Durant’s return from a sprained ankle. Sunday’s game is one of two, along with Friday’s Jazz game, that were added to round out the Suns’ schedule after Phoenix was knocked out of the NBA’s in-season tournament.

Portland is coming off a 118-116 loss to the Spurs and has lost five games in a row. Forward Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 32 points, while guard Anfernee Simons added 30.

Check back here on azcentral.com for live updates throughout Sunday’s game.

Phoenix shot 50% from the field and went 4-of-9 from 3 to open a 33-21 lead over Portland after one.

Devin Booker and Grayson Allen each hit two 3s in the first quarter. Booker leads all scorers with eight, while Kevin Durant, Tyus Jones and Allen each have six.

Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, a Hall of Fame point guard as a player, said the pregame Jones is “tailor-made” for the Suns because of his ability to run the show and make shots. He added that Jones has “humility” at the time and understands who his teammates are.

Translation? Jones realizes he’s playing with Bradley Beal, Durant and Booker and knows they drive the offense, although his role is important as well.

The Suns limited Portland to 36% shooting in the first quarter. The Blazers made just three of their 14 attempts from 3.

Red-hot O’Neale starts for Beal, Ayton out

Royce O’Neale has had the hot hand from the 3 lately.

Averaging 18.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and shooting 19-of-31 from 3 in his last four games, O’Neale started for Beal Friday at Utah and finished with 17 points, going 5-of -9 from 3.

O’Neale gives the Suns more size at small forward. He is a solid defender and has chemistry with Kevin Durant as far as distance to him. Durant assists on three of O’Neale’s five 3s in Friday’s win.

Along with O’Neale, Devin Booker, Tyus Jones, Jusuf Nurkic and Durant will start for Phoenix. Portland will start Anfernee Simons, Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Jerami Grant and rookie Donovan Clingan in the middle.

Former Suns great Deandre Ayton is out with an illness.

Stay tuned for Sunday’s game

Bradley Beal has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers after being a late scratch with right knee swelling before Friday’s road win against the Utah Jazz.

Beal, 31, has played in 15 of Phoenix’s 23 games in his second season with the Suns. He’s averaging 17.8 points on 49.3% shooting from the field and connecting on 36% of his 3s.