February 1, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (24) pushes the ball past Phoenix Sun’s shooter Devin Booker (1) during the first half at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum IM-IMAGN IMAGES Deandre Ayton scored 24 points on 11-AV-12 shooting to lead Portland Trail Blazers to a victory 127-108 over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Saturday evening in the first of two matches in three days between the teams.
Jerami Grant added 20 points for Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 27 points while won his third straight match and seventh in the last eight.
Toumani Camara recorded 18 points, 10 returns and four steals, Anternee Simons had 16 points and seven assists, and Reserve Shaedon Sharpe also got 16 for Portland.
Scoot Henderson registered 13 points and nine assists from the bench, and Deni Avdija added 10 points for Trail Blazers.
Devin Booker scored 37 points for his second straight 30-point excursion for Suns, which fell just for the fourth time in the last 13 matches. Kevin Durant had 22 points and marked the 24th time in his last 25 matches which he has received at least 20.
The team plays again Monday, also in Portland.
Trail Blazers shot 51.7 percent from the field and was 9 out of 31 from 3-point intervals.
Bradley Beal got 13 points from the bench for Suns, which made 45.2 percent of his shots and went 10 out of 33 behind the bow.
Phoenix dragged off 10 after a 3-pointer by Durant with 6:54 left in the third quarter, before Trail Blazers ripped off eight straight points.
Camara and Sharpe knocked down 3-pointers, and Camara added a quick break dunk from her steal to make it 82-64 with 5:01 in the quarter.
The lead reached 20 when Ayton got the study on a short jumper to make it 86-66 with 3:49 left.
Portland led into the final sentence 98-79.
Shortly after Suns moved within 15 points on Durant’s basket with 6:25 left in the game, Ayton delivered the clear salvo. He received consecutive hoops to give Trail Blazers a lead of 114-94 with 4:51 to play, and Phoenix waved the white flag and removed Booker and Durant.
Simons got 14 points during the first half when Trail Blazers led 61-46 at the break. Durant got 13 in half for Phoenix.
Portland led five late at half before he laughed off 10 straight points.
-Field level media
