Deandre Ayton’s impressive double-double featuring 16 points and 15 rebounds, along with Anfernee Simons’ 23 points and seven rebounds, propelled the Portland Trail Blazers to a stunning 109-104 comeback win over the Phoenix Suns, ending their seven-game losing streak. What began as a regular Tuesday night NBA game saw the Blazers overturn a 22-point deficit.
With this loss, the Suns have faced defeat in five of their last seven matches. Kevin Durant was Phoenix’s leading scorer with a remarkable 40 points, while Devin Booker contributed 26 points and seven assists. Despite extending an early 36-20 lead to as much as 22 points in the first half, Phoenix’s defense couldn’t maintain the momentum, as they capitalized on 17 Portland turnovers for 23 points.
Simons played a pivotal role in the game’s closing moments, scoring a crucial layup with just 10.7 seconds left, thwarting Phoenix’s comeback attempt after Portland had built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. Reflecting on the decisive play, Simons shared his last-minute decision to opt for a floater.
“I was trying to decide whether to go up with two hands or shoot a floater and at the last minute I switched it to a floater,” Simons said.
Ayton, facing his previous team, was highly involved throughout, leading the game with 40 minutes played and attempting a season-high 18 field goals. However, he remained focused on his current role with the Blazers, stating that his past with the Suns was not a factor in his performance.
“I’ve just been focused on being a Trail Blazer and establishing who we are in this league,” Ayton said. “I’m too focused on that right now. They were just in the way.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns Updates
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups had aimed to get Ayton more engaged, acknowledging the potential motivation when playing against a former team. Billups had been emphasizing Ayton’s involvement in recent days.
“I ran some plays for him early to try and get him aggressive and going,” Billups said. “Of course you will have extra juice against your former team. But I thought the last couple of days that I needed to start playing him more.”
Jerami Grant added 22 points for Portland, and Malcolm Brogdon contributed 14 points and four assists coming off the bench. Brogdon was also called to start the second half due to Shaedon Sharpe’s exit from the game with a groin injury.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns Updates
Portland’s 3-point shooting was a key factor in their victory, as they made 14 out of 28 attempts from beyond the arc, significantly outperforming Phoenix’s five three-pointers. Durant acknowledged this disparity as a crucial element of the game.
“They made nine more 3s than we did. It was pretty much even everywhere else,” Durant said.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Deandre Ayton, Anfernee Simons, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns Updates
Another aspect of Portland’s second-half success was their improved ball handling, reducing their turnovers from 11 in the first half to just six after the break. The Blazers gained their first lead since the game’s opening minute in the third quarter, outscoring the Suns 38-20, which was instrumental in securing an 87-81 lead going into the final quarter.
Looking ahead, the Suns are set to play the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Blazers will host the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.
