Final
Green, Bledsoe lead Suns over Blazers
Apr 5, 2014 - 6:52 AM Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Gerald Green scored 32 points and Eric Bledsoe dropped a career-high 30 to lead the Phoenix Suns in a 109-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.The Suns snapped a two-game losing streak and pulled even with Memphis for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Both teams trail Dallas by one-half game for the seventh position.
"We just had a thing called determination I guess," said Bledsoe. "Everyone knew that if we lost this game it would be a little tougher on us going forward."
The Suns and Grizzlies each have six games remaining on their schedule, while the Mavericks have five games left.
Goran Dragic netted 19 points and Miles Plumlee pulled down 16 rebounds in the win.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez each deposited 18 points for the Trail Blazers, with Lopez adding 13 rebounds. Portland had its four-game winning streak halted.
Nicolas Batum contributed a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double in the setback.
"I thought for the most part they just outhustled and outworked us," said Lopez. "I thought they definitely played with a little bit of urgency."
Portland dropped two games behind Houston for fourth place in the West and were denied the chance at securing a playoff berth. The Blazers host New Orleans on Sunday with a chance to clinch a spot in the conference's final eight.
A Batum 3-pointer capped the scoring in the first half and helped the hosts to a 54-51 advantage at the break.
Bledsoe made a layup to open the third and Portland answered with eight straight points.
Aldridge and Batum interchanged baskets during the spurt, with Batum's layup staking the Blazers to a 62-53 edge.
Portland led by as many as 10 in the period before Phoenix surged back and cut the deficit to one, 80-79, entering the fourth.
Both teams went in opposite directions at the start of the final stanza.
Green scored 12 points during a 20-5 quarter-opening burst that helped the Suns to a 99-85 advantage with just over five minutes left. The 16-point final margin was Phoenix's largest lead of the night.
Game Notes
Portland had won eight of its last nine at home against Phoenix ... Markieff Morris scored 12 points off the bench and had 11 rebounds in the win ... Each team shot 6-for-21 from beyond the arc ... The Suns had a 48-32 advantage in the paint ... There were nine ties and eight lead changes.
Apr 5 12:23 AM- PHOENIX: 79
PORTLAND: 80
End of 3rd
Apr 4 11:50 PM - PHOENIX: 51
PORTLAND: 54
Halftime
Apr 4 11:08 PM - PHOENIX: 28
PORTLAND: 26
End of 1st
Apr 4 10:36 PM - PHOENIX: 2
PORTLAND: 0
1st Quarter - 11:42
Apr 4 10:12 PM
Related News
- Should we be worried that people with the Phoenix Suns can “feel the frustration with Durant”? Dec 26
- Suns vs. Mavs Final Score: Phoenix continues to struggle, lose 128-114 to Dallas Dec 26
- Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (14-15) vs. Mavs Post Game Podcast Dec 26
- Sharpe, Ayton Questionable Against Kings Dec 25
- Open Thread: Mavericks vs. Suns Dec 25
- How Long Will It Take the Trail Blazers to Be Good Again? Dec 25
- What Was Your Biggest Trail Blazers Disappointment of 2023? Dec 25
- What’s Your Biggest Trail Blazers Joy This Year? Dec 25
- Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown Dec 25
- How Is the Moda Center Experience This Season? Dec 25
- A Christmas Gift for the Portland Trail Blazers Dec 25
- NBA Christmas Day Schedule Open Thread Dec 25