PHOENIX (AP) – The Phoenix Suns got beat in dramatic fashion by the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
In response, they made sure there was zero doubt about Saturday’s outcome.
Devin Booker scored 24 points, Chris Paul added 15 and the Suns cruised to a 102-82 win over the Trail Blazers.
“We have a team full of sore losers,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I knew the way that we lost last night, we’d get an intentional effort tonight on both ends. Defensively, I thought we were locked in.”
The teams were playing each other for the second straight night. The Blazers won 108-106 on Friday when Jerami Grant hit a baseline jumper at the buzzer.
By comparion, Saturday’s game was a snoozer. The Suns pushed to a 61-40 halftime lead and had a comfortable advantage throughout the second half.
“That’s what good teams do – make adjustments,” Booker said. “We had a chance to do that tonight.”
Phoenix has the best record in the Western Conference with a 7-2 mark. Both of the losses have come to the Blazers, who fell to 6-3. The teams have already completed their three-game series in the regular season.
Grant scored 14 points and rookie Shaedon Sharpe added 13. The Blazers were held to their season low in points.
“We didn’t pass the ball enough,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “Kind of played a little one-on-one too much in the first half. That is an elite defence.”
The Blazers were again playing without their high-scoring backcourt of All-Star Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons because of injuries. The two have combined to average 53 points per game.
