Suns swallowed by own chaos vs. Blazers, face elimination

Key Points:

• The Phoenix Suns lost 114-110 to the Portland Trail Blazers in a play-in tournament game, putting them on the brink of elimination with a must-win game on Friday against either the Clippers or Warriors.
• Phoenix struggled with composure and offensive consistency, especially after Devin Booker picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, leading to a deficit that briefly ballooned before a spirited comeback.
• Portland's Deni Avdija dominated the closing stages with 41 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists, outplaying Booker who managed only 6 second-half points and struggled to generate quality offensive possessions.
• The Suns' offensive woes continued with poor ball movement and reliance on midrange shots, making only 9 of 25 three-pointers, while their defense failed to contain Portland’s dribble penetration.
• Injuries and rotation issues, including the absence of Grayson Allen and limited minutes for centers, compounded Phoenix’s challenges, leaving questions about their ability to adapt against smaller lineups in the upcoming elimination game.