Phoenix Suns: 2 Studs and 1 Dud From Preseason Finale vs Portland

No more jogging on fast breaks, no more lazy 3-point attempts, and no more minute restrictions for the Phoenix Suns. The next time they throw on their jerseys and take the floor, it will actually count, with their preseason now wrapped up.

Finishing with a bang, the Suns blitzed the Portland Trail Blazers during their final tune-up contest on Wednesday, winning by a 119-74 tally. Even though the Dallas Mavericks stole the show, winning by an even more absurd 127-59 score against the Charlotte Hornets a few hours later, Phoenix’s blowout victory came across as impressive nonetheless.

During the game, Devin Booker played for the first time since his COVID-19 diagnosis, which came as a relief to fans. Damian Lillard offered the Suns a fun test as well, playing a preseason-high 24 minutes.

Like with their prior two games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix looked clean during the entire bout. The team compiled 30 assists, and put up .495/.390/.867 shooting splits as a collective unit.

But at the defensive end, the Valley Boys matched their scoring prowess, never allowing Rip City to get rolling. Portland never led during the contest, and the Suns notched a +10 rebounding advantage. The Blazers also shot an abysmal 29.8 percent from the field, losing the turnover battle all the same.

From a team standpoint, the Suns checked off seemingly every box during the game, allowing themselves to coast into an easy victory. However, some players carried the load more than others. Breaking down this final look at the Suns before the regular season begins, these two guys played big, while another one fell flat.