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The Phoenix Suns starting lineup tonight was Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight, P.J. Tucker, Jon Leuer, and Alex Len. Tyson Chandler missed his eighth consecutive game, but Martkieff Morris was active.
The Portland Trail Blazers began the game with Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum Al-Farouq Aminu, Noah Vonleh, and Mason Plumlee.
First Quarter
The Suns start out a bit slow, despite getting great looks. Lots of missed opportunities. Portland starting to get hot.
Portland has hit 6 of last 7 shots after starting 0/3 w/ 3TO's in first 3 minutes & leads 15-13 w/ 5:54 to go in 1st. #SunsVsBlazers
— Jon Bloom (@JonBloom) December 12, 2015
Portland goes on a 10-2 run, but then Mirza Teletovic and Devin Booker check in and score five back to back points. Suns still down five with three minutes left.
Cory Jefferson gets subbed in early for Leuer, and quickly gets a vicious dunk at the rim!
Very telling that Cory Jefferson has now surpassed Markieff Morris on the depth chart, huh?
Still, Suns not converting on their possessions enough...but Portland is.
Suns down 33-26 after the 1st Q. Phoenix shooting 42%, 22% from three. Portland shooting 56%, 50% from three. There's the difference.
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
Second Quarter
The Suns start off with a three bomb from Booker. Boom!
Teletovic also getting in on the action. Suns need more of this as Portland is still out-shooting them.
Booker stays hot from above the arc...
Another 3-point attempt, another 3-point make for Booker. But Portland hits one right after. Suns still down 6 with 7 minutes to go in 1st H
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
Suns need to tighten up their defense. Portland getting what they want.
Ronnie Price suddenly gets hot from beyond the arc and hits two threes, and Suns finally get some stops...and the Suns re-take the lead!
Brandon Knight not shooting well at all so far...0/8 from the field. But he does have 8 assists..
Suns have 21 FGs to 17 assists. In the 2nd quarter, Brandon Knight has 4 assists on 3s. Guards passing well
— EmpireOfTheSuns (@EmpireOfTheSuns) December 12, 2015
Bledsoe with the circus shot and-one. Count it! #chewbaccasound
Suns end the half up 61-57. Phoenix with much more energy to close out the quarter.
PHX 61, POR 57; PHX: 49 FG%, 9-21 3s, 3 tov; POR: 48 FG%, 7-15 3s; Bledsoe: 14p/5a; Len: 11p/5r; McCollum: 14p; Crabbe: 12p. #SunsVsBlazers
— Paul Coro (@paulcoro) December 12, 2015
Third Quarter
Suns open up the third quarter with a bucket by Leuer...He now has 11 points.
Brandon Knight misses another shot.
And again...
Brandon Knight is now 0/10...This is not a drill!
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
Suns back down six now...trailing 73-67 with 7 minutes left in the quarter.
Bledsoe scores 5 unanswered pts to halt 10-0 Blazers run. Bledsoe w/19. Lillard/McCollum 31 pts. 73-72 POR w/4:58 3Q #SunsVsBlazers
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) December 12, 2015
Bledsoe is taking the game over, and the Suns desperately need him with Knight having the worst shooting game of his career.
Suns up 82-78 at the end of the 3rd Q.
Fourth Quarter
The Suns miss their first shot of the quarter, but Ed Davis gets his to go. Cory Jefferson then takes a 12 foot jumper, and misses, of course. Not the look you wanted.
Alan Crabbe makes a basket and we're all tied again.
Suns can't get sloppy now. Bad shots and decisions starting to creep in.
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
T.J. Warren finally gets his first point of the game as well, making 1/2 from the line. He has yet to attempt another shot from the field tonight in his 10 minutes of play....weird.
Brandon Knight scored!!!! A free-throw...but still
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
Too much dribbling, not enough passing. Crabbe hits another, and Suns are down five with five minutes left.
Suns aren't hitting, and Portland is...This game is quickly getting away from Phoenix as they now trail Portland 97-89 with 4 minutes left
— Sean Sullivan (@SeanSullivanNBA) December 12, 2015
Suns have to find the hot hand, and fast. Also need some big time defensive stops.
Not happening...Lillard taking over now. Suns down 10 with 2 minutes left. Fans already leaving.
Game Over
Suns lose.
The Suns had good contributions from Bledsoe, Len, Teletovic, and Leuer...But with Brandon Knight having the worst shooting game of his career, the Portland back court was too much to handle.