Trail Blazers falter in 4th quarter during loss at Suns

The Portland Trail Blazers put together three solid quarters Sunday night at the Phoenix Suns, only to fall off early in the fourth during a 116-109 loss at the Footprint Center.

The Blazers played fairly well, as they did during Sunday’s 118-116 loss at home to the Spurs. But once again, the opponent proved to be better.

The Blazers trailed Phoenix by as much as 16 points in the fourth quarter with 3:37 remaining before putting together a late scoring burst that made the score more respectable.

But this game was lost within the first eight minutes of the final quarter. The Suns led 83-79 at the end of the third before going on an 11-3 run to start the fourth and go up 94-82. The Blazers couldn’t get any closer than nine before falling behind 16.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of positives. The Blazers committed just 13 turnovers for 13 points and limited the Suns to 13 second-chance points. The Blazers shot a decent 45.2% from the field, with six players finishing in double figures.

The Blazers shot just 30.6% from three-point range (15 of 49) compared to 38.5% for Phoenix. But Billups was pleased with the shot attempts his team produced.

“We get up 49 threes today, and I thought, really good looking threes, too,” Billups said. “So, I was happy about that.”

The Blazers’ bench outscored the Suns’ bench 50-44 and Portland led 30-23 in assists.

Donovan Clingan #23 of the Portland Trail Blazers attempts a shot against Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center on December 15, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)Getty Images

“We played the right way most of the game,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters. “Any time you have 30 assists, you’re playing right. You’re playing for your teammate. You’re playing for your buddy.”

Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 20 points, Jerami Grant scored 17, as did Deni Avdija off the bench.

Rookie center Donovan Clingan, still on a minutes restriction after returning Sunday from a knee strain, scored 10 points with nine rebounds and blocked two shots in 19 minutes.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points. Kevin Durant scored 20 but went 9 of 23 from the field and 1 of 9 three-point attempts.

“He shoots 23 shots to get 20 points, you did a really good job on him,” Billups said of Durant.

Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) looks to shoot the ball while guarded by Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Samantha Chow) APAP

Things began slowly for the Blazers, who fell behind 33-21 by the end of the first quarter. Portland went 3 of 14 on threes in the quarter. The Blazers went 3 of 10 from long distance in the second quarter but shot 10 of 14 on two-point attempts to win the quarter 30-24 and trail 51-47 at halftime.

The Blazers took their first lead in the third quarter during an 11-0 run that gave them a 62-57 lead that didn’t last long.

“I like our effort when things don’t go amazing,” Adija told reporters. “I feel like we kept playing, we kept fighting.”

Portland made another similar run in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough.

“I feel like we should have started that earlier,” Avdija said. “I don’t think we should start playing like that when stuff goes downhill.”

WHAT IT MEANS (Box score)

The Blazers (8-18) have lost six consecutive games and 10 of their last 12. The Suns (14-11) moved to 13-2 in games with Durant in the lineup.

Portland Trail Blazers v Phoenix Suns

Robert Williams III #35 of the Portland Trail Blazers controls a rebound against Oso Ighodaro #4 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center on December 15, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)Getty Images

WILLIAMS RETURNS

Backup center Robert Williams III returned after missing seven games while going through the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Williams scored eight points with three rebounds in over 16 minutes off the bench.

“I thought both guys protected the rim,” Billups said of Williams and Clingan. “We didn’t give up a lot at the basket.:

NEXT UP

The Blazers host the Denver Nuggets (13-10) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

— Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)

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