Phoenix-suns vs Portland Trail Blazers Picks and Predictions December 15th 2024

Suns Seek Momentum with Durant’s Return

The Phoenix Suns (14-10) host the Portland Trail Blazers (6-18) on Sunday night at the Footprint Center, eager to build on a win over the Utah Jazz as they continue navigating injuries and chemistry challenges. Despite high preseason expectations, the Suns have hovered near .500, but with Kevin Durant back from injury, they aim to turn the tide.

Durant Sparks Suns, Beal Still Day-to-Day

Kevin Durant returned to the lineup on Friday after missing three games with an ankle injury, contributing 30 points in a 132-119 victory over Utah. However, Bradley Beal’s lingering knee soreness kept him sidelined, adding to the team’s struggle to field their Big Three of Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker consistently.

The trio has played just 175 minutes together this season, fueling speculation of a potential trade, with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler being mentioned as a target.

Head coach Mike Budenholzer praised Durant’s versatility:
“He is such a dynamic scorer. He can just shoot over guys and creates double-teams. He’s a great scorer and great playmaker.”

Booker, who has been the Suns’ cornerstone in Beal’s absence, is averaging nearly 26 points per game. Against the Jazz, he tied a season-high with six 3-pointers. Center Jusuf Nurkic also made his return Friday after a two-week absence due to a quad injury, further bolstering the Suns’ lineup.

Trail Blazers Continue to Struggle

Portland has lost nine of its last 11 games and enters Sunday’s matchup after blowing a 17-point second-half lead in a 118-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the tough stretch, head coach Chauncey Billups remains optimistic:
“I was proud of our group. I thought we played hard as heck, and there are so many things we can learn from.”

Rookie center Donovan Clingan returned Friday after missing three weeks with an MCL sprain, posting six points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes. His defensive presence will be critical as he shakes off rust and continues his development.

Offensively, the Blazers have struggled all season. They rank 29th in field-goal percentage (43.8%) and 27th in scoring (106.8 points per game). Defensively, they’re giving up 116.1 points per contest.

Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons carried the load against the Spurs, with Grant scoring 22 of his 32 points in the third quarter, and Simons tying his season-high with 30 points. Billups acknowledged their resurgence:
“It was great to see them both look normal. Jerami makes those shots at a pretty good clip, and Ant got off and got going.”

Keys to the Game

Phoenix Suns:

• Maximize Star Power: With Durant and Booker leading the charge, the Suns need to continue integrating their stars and minimize turnovers.
• Defensive Intensity: Contain Grant and Simons, who have shown the ability to score in bunches.
• Bench Contributions: Role players like Nurkic must provide steady support on both ends of the floor.

Portland Trail Blazers:

• Offensive Efficiency: Improve shot selection and capitalize on scoring opportunities to match Phoenix’s firepower.
• Limit Durant and Booker: Deploy defensive schemes to slow down the Suns’ top scorers.
• Control the Glass: Use Clingan’s presence to dominate rebounding and limit second-chance points.

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Matchup Outlook

The Suns, buoyed by Durant’s return, will look to exploit Portland’s offensive inconsistencies and continue building chemistry before Beal returns. Meanwhile, the Blazers are desperate to turn their season around, relying on Grant and Simons to spark the offense against a more talented Phoenix squad.

With the Suns holding a 103-97 win over the Blazers earlier this season, they’ll aim to replicate that success and gain momentum as they chase consistency and health.