PHOENIX — The Portland Trail Blazers just keep winning.
Two nights after knocking off the Denver Nuggets 118–110, Portland traveled to Phoenix and defeated the Suns 132–119 Wednesday night, improving to 6–1 on the season and a perfect 5–0 on the road.
And this one was entertaining. Not perfect. Not even close. But entertaining.
The Blazers got big performances from Damian Lillard and Donovan Clingan, shot over 51% from the field, and put up 132 points despite some sloppy stretches and questionable decision-making.
Portland is looking like a legitimately good basketball team right now. I’m not ready to start planning the championship parade, but I’m certainly enjoying the ride.
A Slow Start, Then the Blazers Took Over
Phoenix came out with something to prove. Remember, Portland absolutely embarrassed the Suns in the season opener, winning 124–83. That was a 41-point beatdown.
The Suns clearly weren’t interested in another one.
Phoenix played aggressively from the opening tip and took a 34–29 lead after the first quarter. Devin Booker was a problem, and the Blazers weren’t doing nearly enough to slow down the Suns’ offense.
But the second quarter? That was a different story.
Portland exploded for 43 points in the second quarter, outscoring Phoenix 43–25 and turning a five-point deficit into a 72–59 halftime lead.
That’s a 13-point lead at halftime after trailing by five through the first 12 minutes.
Suddenly, the Suns were the ones trying to figure out what had happened.
The Blazers were moving the ball, finding open shooters, attacking the basket, and looking considerably more comfortable offensively.
This is what I like about this team. They have multiple players who can hurt you, and they’re not relying on one guy to carry the entire offense every night.
Damian Lillard and Donovan Clingan Lead the Way
Damian Lillard finished with 25 points, three rebounds, and five assists, leading Portland in scoring.
It’s good to see Dame back in a Blazers uniform, and it’s even better watching him contribute to a winning team.
But one of the biggest stories of the night was Donovan Clingan.
Clingan finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocked shots.
That’s a terrific performance from the young center, especially coming just two days after his 17-point, 18-rebound performance against Denver.
He’s becoming a real problem for opposing teams.
Clingan is giving Portland a physical presence around the basket, protecting the rim, and making opponents work for rebounds. When he’s productive offensively on top of all that, the Blazers become significantly more difficult to defend.
This is exactly the kind of development Portland fans have been hoping to see.
And let’s give some credit to the rest of Portland’s frontcourt, too. The Blazers had eight blocks as a team, and their interior defense helped keep Phoenix from getting everything it wanted at the rim.
Not bad.
Portland Builds a 22-Point Lead
The third quarter was more of the same.
Portland scored another 32 points while holding Phoenix to 26, building its lead to 104–85 heading into the fourth.
At one point, the Blazers led by 22.
The Blazers were shooting well, winning the rebounding battle, and getting contributions throughout the rotation.
And while Phoenix certainly had its moments, the Suns simply couldn’t get enough stops.
Portland finished the night shooting 44-for-86 from the field (51.2%) and 14-for-39 from three-point range (35.9%).
Those aren’t ridiculous shooting percentages, but they’re good enough when you’re also getting to the free-throw line 41 times.
The Fourth Quarter Wasn’t Pretty
Now, before we start handing out trophies, we need to talk about the fourth quarter.
Portland entered the final period leading by 19 points. The game wasn’t necessarily over, but the Blazers had put themselves in a terrific position.
And then things got a little sloppy.
Phoenix outscored Portland 34–28 in the fourth quarter. The Blazers had trouble maintaining the same offensive rhythm that had carried them through the second and third quarters.
There were turnovers, defensive breakdowns, and some ugly free-throw shooting.
Portland finished the game making 30 of 41 free throws (73.2%). Not disastrous, but there were too many missed opportunities to put the game away cleanly.
Come on, guys. These are FREE throws.
To be fair, the Suns deserve some credit for continuing to fight. Devin Booker kept attacking, and Phoenix didn’t simply roll over when Portland built its big lead.
But the Blazers also made things more difficult than necessary.
When you’re up by 19 entering the fourth quarter, you want to see a team maintain its composure, execute offensively, and put the game away without giving the opponent any hope.
Portland won comfortably in the end, but that final quarter wasn’t exactly a masterpiece.
Devin Booker Was Outstanding for Phoenix
As much as I enjoy watching the Suns lose, Devin Booker deserves credit.
Booker finished with 33 points, leading all scorers.
Jalen Green added 22 points and Miles Bridges scored 18 for Phoenix, but the Suns just didn’t have enough answers defensively.
Booker eventually fouled out, and Phoenix fell to 1–5 on the season.
The Suns actually shot better from the free-throw line than Portland, making 27 of 31 attempts (87.1%). They also committed fewer turnovers.
But Portland was the better shooting team, won the rebounding battle 47–39, and made four more three-pointers.
Sometimes basketball really isn’t that complicated. Put the ball in the basket more often than the other guys.
Portland did exactly that.
What I Liked — and What Needs Work
There was plenty to like about this performance.
Portland has now scored at least 118 points in each of its last two games. The offense has multiple options, the team is playing with confidence, and Clingan appears to be taking another step forward.
The Blazers also recorded 27 assists and eight blocked shots against Phoenix. Jrue Holiday chipped in 15 points off the bench, hitting five three-pointers. That’s encouraging.
One concern beyond the box score: Vit Krejci injured his left ankle late in the third quarter after colliding with Miles Bridges and had to leave the game. Hopefully it isn’t serious.
But there are areas that need improvement.
Seventeen turnovers are too many. Portland also allowed 119 points, including 34 in both the first and fourth quarters.
And while the Blazers won the rebounding battle, the team wasn’t nearly as sharp defensively as I’d like to see.
There’s nothing wrong with being excited about a 6–1 start. But there’s also nothing wrong with pointing out that this team still has work to do.
Against a better defensive team, some of these mistakes could be costly.
The Bottom Line
The Blazers are 6–1.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Portland has now beaten Phoenix twice, including that ridiculous 41-point victory on opening night. And following Monday’s impressive comeback in Denver, the Blazers have another road win to add to their collection.
I’m impressed.
Dame is contributing. Clingan is developing into a force. And Deni Avdija was terrific again, finishing with 21 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. This team is finding ways to win.
Yes, Phoenix is struggling. Yes, Portland has some things to clean up. And yes, it’s still very early in the season.
But 6–1 is 6–1.
I’ll take it.
Rip City!
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns Box Score — November 4, 2026
Score by Quarter
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 29 | 43 | 32 | 28 | 132 |
| Phoenix | 34 | 25 | 26 | 34 | 119 |
Team Statistics
| Statistic | Portland | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 44–86 | 41–92 |
| Field goal percentage | 51.2% | 44.6% |
| Three-pointers | 14–39 | 10–36 |
| Free throws | 30–41 | 27–31 |
| Rebounds | 47 | 39 |
| Assists | 27 | 27 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 12 |
Portland’s leading performers: Damian Lillard (25 points, 5 assists), Donovan Clingan (24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks), and Deni Avdija (21 points, 12 assists, 8 rebounds).
Phoenix’s leading scorer: Devin Booker (33 points).
View the complete player-by-player box score on NBA.com.
What’s Next for Portland?
The Blazers travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Friday, November 6, in NBA Cup action.
For game times, television channels, streaming options, and Portland’s complete remaining schedule, check out my 2026–27 Portland Trail Blazers TV, Streaming & Schedule Guide.