Suns And Trail Blazers Battle As Injuries Test Depth

The Moda Center in Portland was buzzing on the night of February 3, 2026, as the Trail Blazers welcomed the Phoenix Suns for a pivotal Western Conference showdown. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, the stakes were high—especially for a Blazers squad desperate to snap a five-game losing streak and a Suns team eager to solidify their spot in the postseason picture.

Coming into the matchup, the Suns boasted a 30-20 record, good for seventh in the West. Their recent form had been promising, with three wins in their last four outings, including victories over the Nets, Pistons, and Cavaliers. However, all was not smooth sailing for Phoenix: star guard Devin Booker remained sidelined with an ankle injury, and Jalen Green was listed as questionable due to a hip issue. Despite these setbacks, the Suns entered the game as 2.5-point road favorites, carrying -155 odds on the moneyline and an over/under set at 218.5 points—a nod to the offensive fireworks both teams were capable of producing.

On the other side, the Trail Blazers were mired in a slump. Their 23-27 record reflected a season of highs and lows, and the absence of key contributors only deepened their woes. Deni Avdija, the team’s leading scorer and All-Star reserve, was nursing a back injury and was listed as day-to-day. The injury list didn’t stop there: Damian Lillard was out for the season with an Achilles tear, Kris Murray and Vit Krejci were both unavailable, and Matisse Thybulle was sidelined with a knee injury. To compound matters, Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday were both questionable, leaving interim coach Tiago Splitter scrambling for answers. Yet, hope lingered in the air, as Henderson—celebrating his 22nd birthday—hinted at an imminent return, telling The Oregonian, “I feel amazing. I’m ready.”

For Portland, the absence of Avdija was a significant blow. The versatile forward had been a revelation, leading the Blazers with 25.5 points and 6.7 assists per game and emerging as a vocal leader on and off the court. Even when sidelined, Avdija’s presence loomed large, with TV cameras catching him encouraging teammates during timeouts. As he explained to Yahoo! Sports, “My opinion matters now.” The Blazers’ faith in Avdija had created a virtuous cycle, fueling his confidence and, by extension, the team’s belief in their potential.

Still, the Suns were not about to let up. Dillon Brooks, in particular, was enjoying a career-best season, averaging 21.1 points per game and stepping up in Booker’s absence. In his last five appearances, Brooks had tallied 22, 27, 40, 26, and 26 points—a torrid scoring stretch that had some pundits touting him as a Most Improved Player candidate. Brooks’ confidence was palpable, and the Suns’ organization even leaned into his newfound villain persona, handing out “Dillon ‘The Villain’” T-shirts to fans in a recent home game. “I like it. Anything that you can give to the fans, and the fans can have for memorabilia, stuff like that is cool for me,” Brooks said.

Collin Gillespie was another key contributor for Phoenix. His all-around game—13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.4 deflections, and 1.7 steals per contest—had drawn comparisons to Suns legend Steve Nash. Gillespie’s ability to orchestrate the offense and disrupt opposing backcourts gave Phoenix an added edge, especially against a depleted Portland lineup.

Statistically, the matchup promised intrigue. The Suns, with a 114.3 offensive rating (15th in the league) and a stingy 112 defensive rating (7th), were well-balanced. The Blazers, meanwhile, ranked 23rd in offense (112.5) and 18th in defense (115.2). Both teams had a penchant for high-scoring affairs; the last three meetings between them had averaged over 237 combined points, and the previous clash saw Phoenix emerge with a 127-110 win at the Moda Center. SportsLine’s projection model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, predicted a total of 232 points and forecasted that six players from each side would reach double figures—a testament to the depth of both rosters.

Portland’s hopes rested heavily on the broad shoulders of Donovan Clingan. The 7-foot-2 center was a rebounding machine, averaging 11.1 boards per game and recently notching multiple outings with 12 or more rebounds. Clingan’s physicality in the paint, particularly against Phoenix’s Mark Williams (who averaged 8 rebounds and 1 block), was expected to be a key battleground. In their previous November matchup, Clingan had pulled down 12 rebounds, demonstrating his knack for dominating the glass.

The Blazers also looked to new additions for a spark. Vít Krejčí, acquired in a trade with the Hawks, was a career 40.5 percent three-point shooter and was expected to help address Portland’s league-worst mark from beyond the arc. However, Krejčí was ruled out with an ankle injury for this contest, delaying his debut. The Blazers’ offensive struggles from deep remained a concern, but the home crowd—many sporting the team’s Carpet City Edition jerseys—was hopeful for a breakthrough.

As the game tipped off at 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. Pacific), fans tuned in across NBC, Peacock, and local affiliates, or streamed the action on Fubo. The Moda Center was alive with anticipation, and promotional giveaways—like the upcoming Jrue Holiday Glasses for Friday’s game—added to the festive atmosphere.

With both squads missing stars, the question loomed: who would step up? For Phoenix, the answer seemed clear—Brooks and Gillespie were poised to shoulder the scoring load, while Williams anchored the defense. For Portland, Clingan’s rebounding and Avdija’s leadership from the sidelines would be crucial, with hopes that role players could rise to the occasion. The SportsLine model’s prediction of a high-scoring, tightly contested affair only heightened the drama.

As the night unfolded, both teams showcased their depth, resilience, and hunger for victory. While the final result was still up in the air as of press time, one thing was certain: the Western Conference playoff race was heating up, and neither the Suns nor the Trail Blazers were backing down. With critical games ahead and stars poised to return from injury, the season’s second half promised even more fireworks.