Phoenix Opens Season With Lopsided Loss to Portland
Phoenix fell 124-83 at Portland in its first game of the season, trailing by a huge margin early. The Trail Blazers opened with a 21-0 run and led 43-12 after the first quarter, while the Suns shot poorly and were outrebounded 56-39. Damian Lillard scored 25 points for Portland, and Devin Booker led Phoenix with 23.
Phoenix’s opener in Portland quickly became one-sided: the Trail Blazers scored the first 21 points and owned a 43-12 edge after one quarter. The Suns made only four of 20 shots in that period and missed all four 3-point attempts, while Portland grabbed 21 first-quarter rebounds. By halftime, the margin was 72-39.
Portland finished 19-of-47 from beyond the arc, with Damian Lillard scoring 25 in his return from an Achilles injury. Phoenix shot 30-of-84 overall and 6-of-31 from deep; Devin Booker had 23 on 7-of-12. Oso Ighodaro appeared to aggravate a hip issue before halftime and did not return. Phoenix next hosts Golden State on Saturday.
The blowout may dampen early enthusiasm among Phoenix fans and could shape local media narratives about the team’s competitiveness, while Portland’s strong opening may boost fan engagement there. For players, a lopsided loss can affect confidence and rotation decisions, though one game is unlikely to define a season. Sports audiences may see renewed attention to Lillard’s comeback and to how Phoenix responds in its home opener.