PORTLAND, Ore. — In a thrilling overtime bout, the Portland Trail Blazers narrowly defeated the Phoenix Suns 121-119 on Monday night, marking their fourth straight win. Deandre Ayton stood out with an impressive 25 points and 20 rebounds, solidifying his importance in the game’s closing moments. Deni Avdija contributed significantly with 24 points, while Toumani Camara added 17 points, including five successful 3-pointers.
The Blazers were in a strong position leading 120-117 as the game wound down. However, Avdija’s foul on Devin Booker while he attempted a 3-pointer with just 4.4 seconds left led to a tense moment. Booker successfully converted the first two free throws but missed the third, allowing Ayton to collect his 20th rebound of the night. Anfernee Simons also made his mark, scoring 13 points and providing 10 assists for Portland.
Booker ultimately scored 34 points in the game, which allowed him to become the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, overtaking Walter Davis’ long-standing record of 15,666 points. Kevin Durant added 27 points, while teammate Bradley Beal finished with 25 points. In a pivotal moment, Beal’s layup brought the Suns within a point at 116-115 with just over thirty seconds remaining in overtime. On the following Blazers possession, Ayton showcased his resilience, grabbing two critical offensive rebounds and sinking four free throws in the final moments to secure the win for Portland.
The game was tightly contested, demonstrating both teams’ competitive spirits. The Suns managed to tie the game at 107 in regulation, thanks to Royce O’Neale’s timely 3-pointer with only 1.7 seconds remaining.
Looking at the implications of this matchup, the Blazers have now won eight out of their last nine games, showcasing some of their best performance in recent years. The significance of Booker’s record achievement was emphasized by Suns coach Mike Budenholzer, who noted the strong connection Booker shares with the team and the local area.
The Blazers displayed a notable advantage in fast-break opportunities, outscoring the Suns 21-12 in this category, which was a key component of their strategy.
Next on the schedule, the Suns will travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, while the Trail Blazers will welcome the Indiana Pacers to their court on Tuesday.
