The Phoenix Suns (1-4) come home Wednesday to open a seven-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers (5-1), and the first note is at guard. Jordan Goodwin is day to day with a right calf injury after leaving Monday’s 116-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Mark Williams remains out with a shoulder injury.
Miles Bridges delivered one of his strongest all-around performances of the young season in the loss, finishing with 21 points (7-14 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 4-5 FT), six rebounds, three assists, one block and four steals over 35 minutes. Bridges finished second on Phoenix in scoring while leading the team with four steals, and he continues to handle a substantial workload in the Suns’ starting lineup.
Dillon Brooks finished with 18 points (5-8 FG, 2-2 3Pt, 6-7 FT), eight rebounds and four assists over 34 minutes. Brooks is off to a nice start for the new campaign, having produced at least 10 points in each of his first five appearances. The eight boards were a new season high for the veteran forward, who has also delivered at least 18 points in three consecutive games.
At center, Oso Ighodaro chipped in 14 points (6-6 FG, 2-2 FT), two rebounds, two assists and one block over 24 minutes off the bench, perfect from the field. Khaman Maluach started at center but played sparingly, registering five points (2-3 FG, 1-2 FT), two rebounds, one block and one steal over 13 minutes. The rookie made the most of his limited offensive opportunities, but his playing time remains a significant obstacle to consistent production.
Luke Kennard notched six points (2-6 FG, 2-6 3Pt), two rebounds and one assist over 18 minutes, attempting all six of his shots from beyond the arc and connecting twice. The veteran sharpshooter has settled into a modest bench role for Phoenix, logging between 12 and 19 minutes in each of his four appearances this season.
The Suns led at Golden State and lost the game late, and coach Jordan Ott said the group has to finish what it starts. “We need to put a full 48 together,” Ott said after Monday’s game.
Portland beat the Suns by 41 points in the season opener in Portland. The Trail Blazers come to the Mortgage Matchup Center on Wednesday at 7 p.m. without Ja Morant
(hamstring) and Shaedon Sharpe (meniscus).
Article provided by Sports Tracker
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