Trail Blazers Pulverize Suns in Yuck-Fest

The Portland Trail Blazers blitzed from minute one, roared out to a 34-9 first quarter lead, and pounded the Phoenix Suns at the Moda Center tonight, winning 108-86. Nothing like the team with the NBA’s worst record to cure what ails you.

Damian Lillard scored 25 points, 21 in the first half, and Jake Layman had a first half to remember with a career-high 17 points in just ten minutes. Josh Jackson had 14 points for the Suns, who dropped to 1-12 on the road this season.

Here are tonight’s takeaways.

• No McCollum, No Problem: Portland played without CJ McCollum, who suffered an ankle injury against Dallas. Seth Curry started in his place. Despite the absence of their second leading scorer, the Blazers overwhelmed a Suns squad that was without their two leading scorers, Devin Booker and TJ Warren.
• Layman’s World, Party Time, Excellent: Jake Layman played for the first time in the last six games, and made the most of it. He hit seven of his first eight shots, scored 17 first half points, and simply devoured every player placed in his path.
• Black Hole Sun: Phoenix was held to under ten points in the first quarter for the second game in a row. While Portland would like this victory to be the catalyst that powers them through an upcoming ten game stretch with some rough opponents, the Suns limited resistance may not be that energizing force.

What’s Next:

Portland faces off against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Saturday.