Damian Lillard made six 3-pointers and scored 25 points in his first game in nearly 18 months and the Portland Trail Blazers opened the game with 21 consecutive points en route to a 124-83 dismantling of the visiting Phoenix Suns in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday.
Lillard, who tore his left Achilles tendon during the 2025 postseason for the Milwaukee Bucks, excelled in 24 minutes in his first appearance in a Portland uniform in more than 3 1/2 years. The face of the franchise from 2012-23 also contributed six assists. He sat out the fourth quarter during a stellar performance in which the Trail Blazers posted their third-largest margin of victory in a season opener.
Deni Avdija recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds and Toumani Camara also scored 18 points for Portland, which led by 31 after one quarter and by as many as 52 overall.
Ja Morant registered 14 points and eight assists in his Trail Blazers debut after being acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason. Scoot Henderson put up 15 points off the bench and Donovan Clingan added 11 points for Portland, which held a 56-39 rebounding advantage.
Devin Booker scored 23 points for Phoenix. Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 10 points apiece for the Suns, who shot 35.7% from the field and just 6 of 31 (19.4%) from 3-point range.
The Trail Blazers hit 19 of 47 (40.4%) from behind the arc and shot 47.9% overall.
Portland made four 3-pointers in the first 3:18 of the game to lead by 14. The advantage reached 21-0 on Avdija’s two free throws just before the midway point of the quarter.
Phoenix’s first points came on Booker’s two free throws with 5:54 left in the period. The Suns missed their first 10 shots from the field until Oso Ighodaro’s dunk with 4:27 remaining cut their deficit to 25-6.
Portland’s lead reached 30 when Lillard drilled a trey to make it 38-8 with 2:06 left. Henderson buried the Trail Blazers’ eighth 3-pointer of the quarter to make it 43-12 with 6.9 seconds remaining.
Camara hit two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run to push the lead to 62-24 with 4:07 to go in the second quarter.
The Trail Blazers led 72-39 at the half behind Lillard’s 17 points and Camara’s 15.
The margin reached 40 for the first time at 104-64 when Henderson stole the ball and raced for a layup with 1:14 remaining in the third. Lillard’s sixth 3-pointer came with 40.9 seconds left as Portland took a 107-66 advantage into the final stanza.
Yang Hansen drained a 3-pointer to push the Trail Blazers’ lead to 122-70 with 3:38 remaining in the game.
–Field Level Media
