Lillard and Clingan Power Blazers Past Suns 132-119 as Portland's Hot Start Rolls On

The Portland Trail Blazers kept their remarkable early-season run going on Wednesday night, beating the Phoenix Suns 132-119 in Phoenix to move to 6-1 — their best start since opening 10-1 in 1999-2000. Damian Lillard tied his season high with 25 points, Donovan Clingan posted 24 points and 11 rebounds for his second straight double-double, and Deni Avdija added 21 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. Jrue Holiday came off the bench to hit five three-pointers on his way to 15 points. Portland trailed by five after the first quarter but exploded for 43 points in the second to take a 72-59 lead into half-time, and the advantage swelled to 22 points late in the third. The win also made Portland 5-0 on the road, its first 5-0 road start in 36 years, and its second win over Phoenix this season after a 41-point rout in the opener. Devin Booker led the Suns with 33 points, going a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line before fouling out for the second straight game, while Jalen Green added 22. Phoenix fell to 1-5 with a fourth consecutive defeat. The victory came at a cost, though: reserve Vit Krejci suffered a fracture to his lower left leg in the second half, head coach Micah Nori confirmed after the game.