? Game Info
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Matchup: Phoenix Suns @ Portland Trail Blazers
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Date / Time: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 — tip-off at 11:00 pm ET at the Moda Center in Portland, OR. NBA+2Suns+2
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Current records:
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Suns: 8-6 (7-3 in last 10 games) StatMuse+2ESPN.com+2
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Trail Blazers: 6-7 (5-5 in last 10) StatMuse+1
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? Phoenix Suns — Profile & Key Trends
Offensive / Defensive Snapshot
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The Suns average 118.8 points per game this season, allowing 114.4 points per game to opponents. ESPN.com
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Field goal percentage: ~47.0% in their games; rebounds about 43.4 per game. ESPN.com
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Some recent volatility: They lost a hard-fought game to the Hawks 124-122 despite controlling much of it. Bright Side Of The Sun+1
Strengths
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Balanced scoring and above-average production on offense, enabling them to keep pace in high-scoring games.
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Their recent losses have also exposed opportunities: when the Suns run into holes, they’ve shown lapses in closing out.
Weaknesses or Risks
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The loss to the Hawks shows a vulnerability late in games: the Suns surrendered 47 fourth-quarter points. Bright Side Of The Sun
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On the road vs Portland, the Suns historically have some performance issues. Tracking how they start and handle tempo will matter.
? Portland Trail Blazers — Profile & Key Trends
Offensive / Defensive Snapshot
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The Blazers average 121.5 points per game while allowing 122.2 points per game so far. ESPN.com+1
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In team comparison vs Phoenix: Portland is slightly ahead in scoring but also gives up slightly more. ESPN.com
Strengths
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At home, Portland benefits from familiarity, and they’ve shown ability to score at a strong clip.
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The margin of error is narrow, but when their offense fires, they can create momentum.
Weaknesses or Risks
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Their defense is giving up more than they score on average, which means they must win a shoot-out rather than control tempo.
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They’ve been inconsistent this season; record slipped to 6-7 indicates they haven’t found a steady rhythm yet.
? Matchup Storylines to Watch
1. Pace & Scoring
With both teams averaging near or above 118-120 points, this game could lean toward more possessions and open looks. Phoenix’s offense versus Portland’s defense (and vice-versa) suggests run-and-gun is a possibility.
2. Suns on the Road vs. Trail Blazers at Home
Phoenix has had stronger home numbers than on the road. Historically, the Blazers have had more favorable results at home versus the Suns. The Suns must start with discipline and avoid letting Portland dictate pace.
3. Late-Game Execution
Phoenix’s recent loss highlighted their challenge in closing defensive lapses. Portland will look to exploit that. How the Suns manage crunch time and how Portland executes second-half pushes matter a lot.
4. Turnovers & Rebounds
In games like this, extra possessions matter. Phoenix has rebound numbers near 43.4 per game. If Portland can secure the boards, especially offensive ones, they create second-chance opportunities.
? Key Numbers
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Suns PPG: ~118.8 ESPN.com
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Suns Opponent PPG: ~114.4 ESPN.com
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Blazers PPG: ~121.5 ESPN.com+1
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Blazers Opp PPG: ~122.2 ESPN.com+1
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Recent head-to-head: The Suns have won 14 of the last 21 meetings against Portland. Suns
? Final Notes
This matchup presents an interesting contrast: a Phoenix team with offensive balance and marginal defensive vulnerability vs. a Portland team with strong scoring potential but defensive inconsistency. The home-team edge may favor Portland, while Phoenix will want to assert their rhythm early and avoid getting locked into a high-tempo shoot-out unless that’s their choosing.
