Overview
- The Trail Blazers opened the season with a 124-83 win over the Phoenix Suns that began with a 21-0 run and ended as a 41-point blowout.
- Damian Lillard made his first appearance back in Portland and scored 25 points with six 3-pointers in 24 minutes to strong ovations.
- Ja Morant started his Blazers career with 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals in 23 minutes, showing offensive chemistry with Lillard.
- New coach Micah Nori used a deep guard rotation that also featured Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday, and role players Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara combined for significant scoring and rebounding.
- Analysts say the opener validated Portland’s offensive ceiling but left open key issues to watch: how Nori will split minutes between Lillard and Morant, whether the small backcourt can handle tougher defensive matchups, and how the team manages both stars’ recent injury histories after the high-profile trade that brought Morant to Portland.