PHOENIX – On the second night of a back-to-back, and being without Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, Sunday was going to be a tough day for the Phoenix Suns. After a thrilling win over the Orlando Magic, the franchise had less than 24 hours to rest before facing off against the Portland Trail Blazers in Mortgage Matchup Center. Saturday’s game saw the roster shoot 34.2% from the field in a draining game, and Sunday showed the effect in a repeat performance.
The first half saw Phoenix shoot 35% from the field and just 2-of-19 from beyond the arc. Despite losing All-Star Deni Avdija in the first minute, a dominant performance from Portland big man Donovan Clingan gave his team a boost. He stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks. The saving grace was 24 first half bench points, led by Jamaree Bouyea, to keep the deficit only seven heading into halftime.
Halftime didn’t solve many problems for the Suns, scoring only 17 third quarter points on 30% shooting to blow the deficit to 20. A few mini runs wasn’t enough to overwhelm the team’s 37% shooting from the field in 92-77 loss to the Trail Blazers. The 77 points is a season low for Jordan Ott’s squad.
Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) reacts after suffering an injury against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
3rd quarter:
Clingan’s seven-foot frame just overwhelmed Phoenix in the paint. The 22-year-old snagged his second offensive rebound early for the putback to bring Portland’s paint points to 30 and second chance points to eight two minutes into the third. Clingan and Jerami Grant fueled a 12-2 run that started towards the end of the first half that continued in the second.
Grant scored eight points in the final three minutes of the second quarter and remained hot with four points in the few minutes, including a thunderous slam that extended the Blazers lead to 15. The Suns needed a spark and Jalen Green started it by making back-to-back tough jumpers following the Grant slam.
Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Jalen Green (right) shoots the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
However, the usual suspects for Portland hit back harder with Clingan swishing a corner three and Grant with a cutting up and under and-one to boost back their lead. Phoenix looked all out of sorts fumbling in-bound passes out of bounds, losing the ball out on the break and no connectivity defensively.
The bow to end the Blazers’ 11-2 run was a Toumani Camara block on an Isaiah Livers 3-point attempt leading to a fastbreak slam, forcing Ott to call a timeout with his team down 20. A small 6-0 run in the final two minutes, carried by Khaman Maluach, brought the Suns only down 71-57 entering the fourth.
Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach (10) celebrates a three point shot against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
4th quarter:
After start zero-of-four from the perimeter, Collin Gillespie awoke in the final frame. The 26-year-old sunk three straight 3-pointers to carry the bench unit that had began to faulter. Gillespie nearly doubled the team’s 3-point total and halved the deficit as Ott would give one more push putting Green back in the game.
Blazers head coach Tiago Blazers had to back to his starters, as this one was turning less into a blowout. The two-man game between Scoot Henderson and Clingan gifted Portland some breathing room back to 16, but Gillespie responded with his fourth shot from beyond the arc and a reserve lay to keep his team alive.
Feb 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) against Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Two miss free throws from Clingan and free Chick-Fil-A pumped the crowd up to a frenzy in the final four minutes. The Suns couldn’t translate that energy into points, as a missed layup by Green led right to Clingan’s redemption with a 3-pointer to send a once excited crowd heading towards the exit.
An extraordinary lob from Jrue Holiday to Clingan put a cap on a sensational night. Clingan finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in the Suns 92-77 lost to Blazers.