Suns Seek Seventh Win Over Blazers As Portland Faces Injury Woes

The Moda Center in Portland was buzzing on February 3, 2026, as the Portland Trail Blazers hosted the Phoenix Suns in a highly anticipated Western Conference clash. Both teams entered the contest with plenty on the line—the Suns, sitting seventh in the West and boasting 30 wins, aimed to keep their momentum rolling despite key injuries, while the Blazers, reeling from a five-game skid, searched for answers and a way to halt their slide.

With tipoff at 11 p.m. ET, fans tuned in via NBC, Peacock, and Fubo, eager to see if Phoenix could capitalize on Portland’s recent struggles or if the Blazers would finally find their spark. The betting markets reflected the Suns’ recent form, listing them as 2.5-point road favorites with -155 odds on the moneyline, while the Blazers sat as +130 underdogs. Oddsmakers set the over/under at 218.5 points, a nod to the high-scoring affairs these teams have produced in their recent meetings.

Phoenix arrived in Portland riding a wave of confidence, having won three of their last four games, including a 127-110 victory over the Blazers back in November. The Suns had also gone 3-1 during a recent five-game homestand, notching wins over the Nets, Pistons, and Cavaliers before suffering a blowout loss to the Clippers. However, the absence of All-Star guard Devin Booker, sidelined with an ankle injury, loomed large. Jalen Green was also questionable with a hip issue, further testing the Suns’ depth.

On the other side, the Blazers were battered by injuries and inconsistency. Deni Avdija, their leading scorer and emotional leader, was day-to-day with a back injury and ultimately missed the game. Portland’s injury list was lengthy, missing stalwarts like Damian Lillard (season-ending Achilles), Kris Murray (back), Vit Krejci (ankle), and Matisse Thybulle (knee). Scoot Henderson, celebrating his 22nd birthday, was also day-to-day with a hamstring injury, while Jrue Holiday’s status was uncertain due to personal reasons. The team’s recent five-game losing streak included defeats at the hands of Washington, New York, and Cleveland, the latter a 130-111 drubbing that underscored their struggles without Avdija’s presence.

Despite the adversity, the Moda Center crowd was treated to a fascinating matchup of rising stars and breakout performers. Dillon Brooks, the Suns’ vocal leader and defensive ace, has silenced critics this season with a career-best campaign. Averaging 21.1 points per game, Brooks erupted for 40 points against the Pistons just a week prior, shooting an efficient 13-for-22 from the field and adding eight rebounds and four assists. His recent scoring surge—posting 22, 27, 40, 26, and 26 points in his last five games, all while Booker was sidelined—has thrust him into the Most Improved Player conversation. Even so, Brooks was passed over for an All-Star reserve spot, with coaches opting for veterans like LeBron James instead.

Brooks’ impact has extended beyond scoring. The Suns organization embraced his persona, distributing “Dillon ‘The Villain’” T-shirts to fans during a January home game, a gesture Brooks appreciated. “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, per team sources. His all-around play and leadership have helped keep Phoenix afloat during Booker’s absence, and his relentless motor was expected to be a key factor against Portland’s vulnerable defense, which ranked 19th in defensive rating and 23rd in opponent points allowed (117.9 per game).

Meanwhile, the Blazers leaned heavily on their own breakout star, Deni Avdija. Before his injury, Avdija averaged 25.5 points, 6.7 assists, and led the team in scoring and playmaking. His emergence as a vocal leader has been credited with keeping Portland competitive through a turbulent season. “My opinion matters now,” Avdija told Yahoo! Sports’ Yaron Weitzman, reflecting on the trust interim coach Tiago Splitter and the staff have placed in him. That confidence has paid dividends—when Avdija is healthy, the Blazers can hang with almost anyone. But his absence has been glaring, with the team’s offensive rhythm and defensive cohesion suffering as a result.

Portland’s frontcourt featured another rising force: Donovan Clingan. The 7-foot-2, 280-pound center has been a rebounding machine, averaging 11.1 boards per game on the season and posting gaudy numbers in recent weeks—12, 20, 15, 16, 17, 11, and 12 rebounds in his last ten outings. Clingan’s bruising style and relentless pursuit of the glass have made him a nightly double-double threat. In the November matchup against Phoenix, Clingan grabbed 12 rebounds, and his size advantage over Suns big man Mark Williams (an inch shorter and 40 pounds lighter) set up another intriguing battle in the paint.

Statistically, the matchup promised fireworks. The last three meetings between these squads had sailed over the total, averaging 237.3 combined points. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulated the game 10,000 times, projected a whopping 232 points on average, with the over hitting in nearly 67% of simulations. Both teams were expected to get scoring contributions up and down the roster, with six players from each projected to reach double figures.

The Suns’ supporting cast has also stepped up. Collin Gillespie, drawing comparisons to Suns legend Steve Nash, has averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.4 deflections, and 1.7 steals per game. His steady play at both ends has helped offset Booker’s absence, while Mark Williams has anchored the interior with 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.

For Portland, the hope was that recent trade acquisition Vít Krejčí, a career 40.5% three-point shooter, could help address the team’s league-worst perimeter shooting when healthy. However, Krejčí was out with an ankle injury for this matchup, leaving the Blazers thin on the wing. The team’s offensive rating (112.5, 23rd in the NBA) and defensive rating (115.2, 18th) highlighted their struggles on both ends, while Phoenix’s more balanced profile (offensive rating 114.3, defensive rating 112) gave them the statistical edge.

As the action unfolded in Portland, fans saw a Suns squad determined to make up for missing stars and a Blazers team desperate to snap their losing streak. While the final outcome was still undecided at press time, the stage was set for another high-scoring, hard-fought battle between two teams with playoff aspirations and plenty to prove. All eyes now turn to whether Portland can regroup and finally get back in the win column, or if Phoenix’s depth and resilience will keep their ascent going strong.