Key Highlights
- The Portland Trail Blazers suffered their sixth straight loss to the Phoenix Suns.
- Vít Krejčí made his debut for the Blazers but struggled with his shooting.
- The Suns outscored the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter, turning a 19-point deficit into a victory.
- Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara showed energy but heart was not enough against the Suns’ precision.
- Tiago Splitter acknowledged that players are affected by the trade deadline, creating an awkward situation.
The Suns’ Precision Overcame Blazers’ Heart
Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll strutted off the Moda Center court with a swagger that only comes from knowing you’ve just won. “Nice road win, boys,” he shouted out loud as he made his way into the visiting locker room. Meanwhile, just two miles away, the Portland Trail Blazers were left to digest another tough loss.
Vít Krejčí Makes Debut
The game brought a new face to the Blazers: Vít Krejčí. The Czech player entered the game with 5:06 left in the first quarter and didn’t waste much time testing his shooting ability, firing a step-back three less than two minutes into his first shift. It bounced off the front iron.
And that was a recurring sight for the rest of the night.
Krejčí didn’t arrive in Portland until Monday after enduring two canceled flights, an unexpected overnight stay in Miami and a restless night that included just two hours of sleep. Then, after passing his physical, he went through a Tuesday morning shootaround with coaches and teammates. It was as Krejčí said, “a long 48 hours” and it showed. He scored just five points in 14 minutes and made 2 of 7 shots, including 1 of 6 threes, with most falling short off the front iron.
Blazers’ Energy vs Suns’ Precision
The Blazers started strong, building an early 19-point lead. With Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara splashing three-pointers, the defense applying pressure all over the court, and the blazing speed and depth of a nearly-healthy roster providing balance, they had that old killer look in their eyes.
But heart was not enough Tuesday night. The Suns outscored the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter, turning a 19-point deficit into a victory. Gillespie and Allen took turns punishing the Blazers from the outside, combining to score 54 points and make 14 threes, exploiting the Blazers’ “drop” defensive scheme with precision and poise.
Trade Deadline Creates An Awkward Situation
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at noon, and it’s creating an awkward situation for the Trail Blazers. Acting coach Tiago Splitter acknowledged that his players are affected by the noise surrounding potential trades. “It’s not a great timing for sure,” he said. “There’s always something about that. But hopefully we can get past the deadline … and move forward.”
Players like Camara seem aware of the situation but try to keep their minds focused on the game: “Everybody is trying to figure it out,” he said. “Everybody is kind of nervous about getting a random phone call.
But it’s just a part of the business we are in.”
You might think this is new, but it’s not. The trade deadline always creates an awkward tension among players and coaches. It’s like everyone’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Will the Blazers make a move? Or will they continue to limp through their longest losing streak of the season?
