Game Thread GAME# 66: SUNS @ BLAZERS - MARCH 10, 2020 - TUESDAY, 7:00, NBCSNW

[Darkwebs]

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
PHOENIX SUNS
25 - 38
(13-16 Road)
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
28 - 37
(17-14 Home)

______________________________
---------PROBABLE STARTERS---------

PG

RICKY RUBIO VS DAMIAN LILLARD

SG

DEVIN BOOKER VS C.J. McCOLLUM

SF

MIKAL BRIDGES VS TREVOR ARIZA

PF

DARIO SARIC VS CARMELO ANTHONY

C

ARON BAYNES VS HASSAN WHITESIDE

------------------------------------------------------

------- JERSEYS -------

---

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WHEN: 7:00 PM (PST), TUESDAY, 3/10/2020

WHERE: Moda Center, Portland, OR

TV BROADCAST:

RADIO BROADCAST:

-----------------------------------------------------------------



--------------BENCH--------------

-------- PHOENIX SUNS --------

HARPER , CARTER , LECQUE

OKOBO , JEROME , JOHNSON

OWENS , DIALLO

---- PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS ----

SIMONS , TRENT Jr. , HEZONJA

LITTLE , HOARD

GABRIEL , SWANIGAN , BROWN



INJURIES
SUNS
Cameron Johnson (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Deandre Ayton (sprained left ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Kelly Oubre (right knee): OUT
Frank Kaminsky (right patella stress fracture): OUT
TRAIL BLAZERS
Jusuf Nurkic (left leg): OUT
Zach Collins (dislocated left shoulder): OUT
Rodney Hood (torn Achilles): OUT



HEAD COACHES

- VS –

MONTY WILLIAMS --- TERRY STOTTS



OFFICIAL SUNS' GAME NOTES
OFFICIAL BLAZERS' GAME NOTES ​

• Tuesday's game will be the fourth and final matchup between the Trail Blazers and Suns during the 2019-20 season. Phoenix leads the season series, 2-1.

• LAST MEETING: The Suns defeated the Trail Blazers 127-117, in Phoenix on March 6. CJ McCollum led Portland with 25 points (10-20 FG, 3-8 3-PT, 2-2 FT), three rebounds, eight assists and one steal, while Aron Baynes led Phoenix with a career-high 37 points on 12-of-23 shooting (9-14 3-PT, 4-4 FT), to go with 16 rebounds and two blocks. His nine threes were a career-best, and his 16 rebounds were one short of his career-high.

• Damain Lillard scored 24 points (6-16 FG, 3-7 3-PT, 9-10 FT) to go with three rebounds and six assists against Phoenix on March 6. It was his second game back after returning from a groin injury.

• Hassan Whiteside had 23 points (11-14 FG, 1-1 3-PT) to go with 20 rebounds, one assist and four blocks in Portland's last meeting with Phoenix. It was his second game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds this season.

• Dario Saric scored a season-high 24 points (9-13 FG, 2-4 3-PT, 4-5 FT), to go with eight rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes against Portland on March 6.

• HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY:
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 122-107
IN PORTLAND: Trail Blazers lead, 71-44
AT THE SUNS: Suns lead, 78-36

​

 

[Darkwebs]

There's still over a month of regular season basketball left to play, but was the blowout loss against Sacramento the alarm clock that prematurely ends the Blazers' post-season dreams?

Yes, Portland is still mathematically alive in the playoff race, but are they just the living dead right now?

Certainly, they've played like zombies on the court the last 2 games.

And over the past month, the Blazers had 5 chances to beat teams who are with them in the race for the 8th seed, and frustratingly they've lost all 5 games. That doesn't instill any confidence in me moving forward this season. Should the Blazers just turn on the ignition to their tank now and race towards the lottery instead of the 8th seed?

I don't know, but I guess we'll find out soon.

As for this game, it is yet another one in which Portland is facing a team who's battling with them for that last playoff spot in the West. In addition, the Blazers will be looking for revenge after suffering a loss to this Phoenix team just 4 days ago. This time the game will be on the Blazers' turf, but judging from the game against the Kings, this might not make a lick of difference.

Go Blazers! Either to the 8th seed or to the lottery, but whatever you choose, GO HARD!

 

[Darkwebs]

BATTLE FOR THE 8TH

​

 

[TBpup]

And over the past month, the Blazers had 5 chances to beat teams who are with them in the race for the 8th seed, and frustratingly they've lost all 5 games. That doesn't instill any confidence in me moving forward this season. Should the Blazers just turn on the ignition to their tank now and race towards the lottery instead of the 8th seed?

That is a DAMNING statistic.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Theres still over a month of this season to go was sooooo depressing to read.

 

[TBpup]

Blazers will win this game to keep the misery of false hope alive. It won't really help them but will make their Lottery position worse. Ugh.

 

[KSF-ERIC]

I think we have to go 13-4 minimum the rest of the way. That's not gonna happen with Dame at 60% and Nurk being rusty. And Ariza and Melo being old. It's done. For the first time since 2012, I'm going to skip a Blazers game. I'll go drive Uber during this one.

 

[TBpup]

In the last two games, the Suns and Kings starters have torched our starters. Despite a depleted bench, that hasn't been what is costing us games.

Kings - 77
Blazers - 63

Suns - 115
Blazers - 96

Where was the sense of urgency? Our 3rd string bench actually won the bench battle and with guys like Gabriel, Swanigan, Hezonja, etc, that is saying something.

 

[James lamphear]

If Stotts game plan to play defense like they did on Bains then Stotts should be fire at the end season. This will tell me he to stubborn to change his scheme on defense and next will be same and to prevent that he must go.

 

[Bruno_Sabino]

Every game now is a must win.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

I think we have to go 13-4 minimum the rest of the way. That's not gonna happen with Dame at 60% and Nurk being rusty. And Ariza and Melo being old. It's done. For the first time since 2012, I'm going to skip a Blazers game. I'll go drive Uber during this one.

wow, this is depressing.

 

[Wade Garrett]

I think we have to go 13-4 minimum the rest of the way. That's not gonna happen with Dame at 60% and Nurk being rusty. And Ariza and Melo being old. It's done. For the first time since 2012, I'm going to skip a Blazers game. I'll go drive Uber during this one.

13-4 won't happen and it won't matter as long as the other teams fighting for that spot continue to FIGHT for that spot.

 

[SIeepwalker]

Every game now is a must win.

You mean a must lose !

 

[BlazerBeav]

I am the opposite of excited about the fact that we still have five more games on this homestand. Going to have to start drinking before tip-off.

 

[Strenuus]

Look, MAR10 should have a fantastic game, dont you think?

 

[Labinot41]

Every game now is a must win.

Every game is a must lose for Avdija

 

[KSF-ERIC]

Look, MAR10 should have a fantastic game, dont you think?

Mario’s been killing it under the radar these last few games.

 

[kjironman1]

So is there any work on Lillard really? I understand he is not on the injured list but we all know he is nursing injuries? What do we got?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Look, MAR10 should have a fantastic game, dont you think?

This was an underrated post.

 

[DDolla]

I’m just here to see Baynes score 40 points

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Look, MAR10 should have a fantastic game, dont you think?

Apparently today is actually the unofficial "Mario" Day.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Apparently today is actually the unofficial "Mario" Day.

It is, a bunch of nerd sales going on for Nintendo / Mario stuff too... or at least... I guess that's happening...

 

[Wade Garrett]

I selected "zero" on the poll question.
Expecting Booker to be more aggressive and the Bearded Kiwi to come back to reality, regardless of how open he is. And, we know he'll be open.
As will Devin Booker.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

It is, a bunch of nerd sales going on for Nintendo / Mario stuff too... or at least... I guess that's happening...

 

[kjironman1]

View attachment 30140

 

[Propagandist]

I'm not sure I can take another Suns game...

 

[HailBlazers]

Anybody going to the game tonight???? Need the 10's poster for my collection.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I hate that I'm going to want to watch this...

 

[Darkwebs]

 

[Labinot41]

Booker going for 50