Blazers’ Hot Start Fizzles as Suns Catch Fire from Deep Behind Gillespie’s Career Night
For the first 24 minutes on Tuesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers looked like a team ready to snap a five-game skid. The ball was moving, the shots were falling, and the defense had energy.
But in the NBA, a great first half doesn’t always translate to a win-especially when the other team finds a shooter in rhythm. Or in this case, two.
The Blazers built a 19-point lead in the opening quarter, hitting 7 of their first 14 three-point attempts and looking like a team with something to prove. But the Phoenix Suns, led by a scorching Colin Gillespie, stormed back and eventually handed Portland its sixth straight loss, 130-125. The defeat drops the Blazers to 23-28, clinging to the 10th spot in the Western Conference standings.
Gillespie was the story of the night, pouring in a career-high 30 points in just 33 minutes. He was relentless in the second half, knocking down 5 of 6 from deep in the third quarter alone and continuing the onslaught into the fourth. When a shooter gets that kind of confidence, it changes everything-and the Blazers simply didn’t have an answer.
Blake Wesley Brings a Spark-But Only for So Long
One of the bright spots for Portland came in the form of Blake Wesley, whose return to the lineup brought a noticeable jolt to the Blazers’ tempo and defense. Wesley plays with a fearless edge-his straight-line drives to the rim and willingness to push the pace gave Portland a different gear early on.
He finished with 10 points, 4 assists, and went 4-for-8 from the field in 20 minutes. More importantly, he helped create opportunities that made the offense feel more fluid.
His presence opened up secondary actions, and his ability to find cutters in motion gave Portland a much-needed wrinkle. But as the game wore on and rotations tightened, Wesley’s impact faded-along with the Blazers’ early momentum.
Vit Krejci’s Debut: Subtle Impact, Complicated Rotation
Newcomer Vit Krejci didn’t light up the box score in his Blazers debut-5 points on 1-of-6 shooting from deep-but his floor-spacing presence was felt. Krejci’s size and shooting gravity helped stretch Phoenix’s defense, creating driving lanes and cleaner looks for his teammates. Even when the shots didn’t fall, the spacing helped the offense breathe.
That said, integrating Krejci into the rotation clearly brought some growing pains. Caleb Love saw just eight minutes of action, while Krejci logged 14.
Head coach Tiago Splitter is facing a tough balancing act as the roster gets closer to full strength. With the trade deadline looming on Thursday, there may be more moves coming that help clarify roles.
For now, it’s a bit of a puzzle.
The Three-Point Line: Where the Game Was Won-and Lost
Let’s not overcomplicate it. This game, like so many in today’s NBA, was decided from beyond the arc.
The Blazers came out firing, hitting 7 threes in the first quarter and looking like they might run away with it. But that hot start cooled quickly. Portland went just 10-for-36 from deep the rest of the way, finishing 17-of-50 overall-right on their season average of 33%.
The Suns, on the other hand, got stronger as the game went on. They knocked down 20 of their 41 attempts from long range, with Gillespie and Grayson Allen leading the charge. Allen hit 4 of his 5 threes in the third quarter, while Gillespie's heater carried into the final frame.
When two shooters catch fire like that, especially in the same quarter, it’s tough to recover. The Blazers tried to answer, but they simply couldn’t keep pace from deep.
Clingan’s Highs and Lows in the Drop
Donovan Clingan came into this one clearly motivated after a rough outing against Jarrett Allen two nights prior. Early on, he made his presence felt-knocking down his first three shots, grabbing offensive boards, and swatting away two shots while altering several others.
But as the game progressed, Phoenix zeroed in on a weakness: Clingan’s mobility in pick-and-roll coverage. The Suns ran high ball screens repeatedly, forcing Clingan into space where his drop coverage couldn’t contain the Suns’ sharpshooters. That led to a tough decision-benching Clingan for much of the second half.
It’s a familiar dilemma for teams with traditional bigs in today’s perimeter-heavy league. When Clingan is allowed to anchor the paint, he can be dominant. But when opponents pull him out and stretch the floor, the Blazers have to adjust.
Still, Clingan’s stat line was strong: 14 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists in 27 minutes. He showed flashes of dominance, but Portland will need to get creative schematically to keep him on the floor in matchups like this.
What’s Next for Portland?
This one stings. The Blazers had a big lead, a hot start, and contributions from key players.
But they couldn’t close the door. As they approach the trade deadline, questions linger-not just about roster moves, but about identity.
Who are the Blazers when the threes stop falling? How do they adapt when their big man is schemed off the floor?
There’s still time to find answers. But the margin for error is shrinking.