The Portland Trail Blazers didn’t just beat their rivals — they sent a message. On Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, the Trail Blazers dismantled the Phoenix Suns 127-108 in the first game of a back-to-back series, ending a three-game losing streak and reminding the Western Conference they’re still a force to reckon with. The star? Deandre Ayton, the 26-year-old Bahamian center who once wore Phoenix’s jersey, now returning with a vengeance. He dropped 24 points on an absurd 11-of-12 shooting — 91.7% efficiency — against the team that drafted him first overall in 2018. This wasn’t just a game. It was a reckoning.
A Dominant Performance Across the Board
The Trail Blazers didn’t rely on Ayton alone. They overwhelmed Phoenix with balance and rhythm. Portland outscored the Suns 31-27 in the first quarter, then turned up the heat with a 30-19 second-period blitz that turned a tight game into a rout. The third quarter was pure chaos — 37 points for Portland, 33 for Phoenix — as the home crowd roared with every basket. Even in the final frame, when both teams traded blows, the Blazers held firm, matching Phoenix’s 29 points to seal a 19-point win. It was their largest margin of victory over Phoenix since December 3, 2022, when they won 121-98. The 127 points marked their fifth-highest scoring game of the season, trailing only a 135-point explosion against Sacramento in December.
Meanwhile, the Suns’ 108 points were their third-lowest of the year — a worrying sign for a team that entered the game on a one-game winning streak. Their offense, usually sharp and efficient, looked disjointed. Devin Booker, who averaged 26.4 points per game this season, managed just 18 on 6-of-19 shooting. Chris Paul, 38, looked every bit his age, finishing with 10 assists but only 5 points and three turnovers. The Suns’ bench, usually a strength, managed just 27 points — 15 fewer than Portland’s reserves.
Ayton’s Redemption Arc
For Deandre Ayton, this was personal. He spent four seasons in Phoenix, rising from rookie of the year candidate to All-Star contender before being traded in 2022 and eventually signing with Portland as a free agent in July 2024. He’d scored 22 points against the Suns just two months ago, but never with this kind of surgical precision. His 91.7% field goal percentage? That’s elite. Even LeBron James has never shot that efficiently in a game with 10+ attempts. He also grabbed 10 rebounds — his 13th double-double of the season — and blocked two shots, showing he’s not just a scorer but a defensive anchor.
"I didn’t come here to prove anything to them," Ayton said postgame, his voice calm but firm. "I came here to help this team win. And tonight, we did that. Together."
It’s easy to overlook the emotional weight of this game. Ayton wasn’t just playing against his former team — he was playing against the narrative that he couldn’t thrive outside Phoenix. The Suns, under new ownership and coaching, had moved on. But Ayton? He’s building something new. Something better.
The Bigger Picture: Where Both Teams Stand
Before tip-off, the Suns sat at 9-6, comfortably in the Western Conference top six. The Trail Blazers? At 6-8, they were flirting with playoff irrelevance. Now, after this win, Portland improves to 7-8. Still not great, but momentum matters. They’ve now won three of their last five — a marked improvement from their 1-7 stretch in January.
Phoenix, meanwhile, falls to 9-7. Their early-season promise is fading. They’ve lost three of their last five games, and their defense has slipped from third-best in the league in December to 18th in January. Coach Frank Vogel, who took over in the offseason, is under increasing pressure. The Suns’ front office, led by James Jones and majority owner Mat Ishbia, may need to make moves before the trade deadline.
For Portland, the win was a lifeline. Head coach Chauncey Billups has been quietly rebuilding the team’s identity — more ball movement, less isolation, more defense. This game was a blueprint. Anfernee Simons added 21 points and six assists. Jerami Grant chipped in 19. Even the rarely-used backup center, Zach Collins, played 14 minutes and scored 8 points — a sign the rotation is deepening.
What’s Next? The Rivalry Isn’t Over
The two teams meet again on Sunday, February 2, 2025 — same court, same stakes. Then, they’ll wrap up their season series on March 25 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. This is the fourth and final regular-season matchup mandated by the NBA’s scheduling formula for Western Conference foes. But don’t think this rivalry is done. The all-time series now stands at 153 wins for Portland, 144 for Phoenix — a narrow edge, but one that’s growing.
The Trail Blazers still trail the conference leaders — Oklahoma City Thunder (14-1), Denver Nuggets (10-3), and Lakers (11-4) — by a wide margin. But with Ayton playing like an All-Star and Billups finding chemistry, Portland isn’t just playing for pride anymore. They’re playing for a playoff spot. And if they can win the second game against Phoenix? That could be the turning point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Deandre Ayton’s performance against the Suns so significant?
Ayton’s 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting (91.7%) against his former team is his most efficient game ever against Phoenix, surpassing his previous best of 22 points on 9-of-12. It’s also his first 20-point, 10-rebound game against them since leaving in 2022. This performance signals he’s no longer just a former draft pick — he’s a franchise cornerstone in Portland.
How does this loss affect the Suns’ playoff chances?
Phoenix’s 9-7 record still keeps them in the top eight, but their defense has slipped badly — they’ve allowed over 115 points in four of their last six games. With key injuries to Jalen Smith and Jalen Johnson, and inconsistent play from Booker and Paul, the Suns could drop out of the top six if they lose their next two games. Their March 25 rematch with Portland could be a de facto playoff tiebreaker.
What’s the history between the Trail Blazers and Suns?
This was the 298th regular-season meeting since the Suns joined the NBA in 1968. Portland leads the all-time series 153-144. The teams have met in the playoffs four times, with Portland winning three of those series — including a dramatic 2021 Western Conference semifinal. Their rivalry has grown more intense since Ayton’s departure and Portland’s recent resurgence.
What does this win mean for Chauncey Billups’ coaching future?
Billups, in his second season as head coach, was under scrutiny after Portland’s 1-7 January slump. This win — especially with the team playing unselfishly and defensively — shows his system is working. If the Blazers win Sunday and push their record to 8-8, Billups could be seen as a candidate for Coach of the Year if they make the playoffs. His ability to integrate Ayton into the offense is now his signature achievement.
Is this game a sign of a larger shift in the Western Conference?
Absolutely. The Thunder, Nuggets, and Lakers still lead, but the middle tier is crumbling. The Suns’ struggles, the Clippers’ collapse (4-10), and the Blazers’ resurgence suggest the West is more volatile than ever. Portland’s win proves teams outside the elite can still rise — if they find the right chemistry. Ayton’s performance might be the spark that turns Portland from lottery team to playoff threat.