5 takeaways from Phoenix Suns rematch victory over Portland Trail Blazers

The Phoenix Suns took all the drama out of this one.

After losing twice to Portland this season by two points each time, the Suns ran away with a 102-82 victory Saturday at Footprint Center.

They led by as many as 23 points in the first half in avenging Friday’s 108-106 loss that ended with Jerami Grant hitting a jumper at the buzzer. The Suns led by as many as 29.

Devin Booker paced Phoenix (7-2) with 24 points while Chris Paul added 15 on 3-of-7 shooting (2-of-4 from 3, 7-of-7 from the line) after scoring just seven on 1-of-4 shooting Friday night.

The Suns were without Cam Johnson, who suffered a right knee injury Friday.

Grant scored a team-high 14 to lead Portland (6-3) after going for a game-high 30 Friday

Here are five takeaways as Phoenix begins four-game road trip Monday in Philadelphia (4-6), losers of its last two games.

NBA: SCOREBOARD | STANDINGS | STATISTICS

3-and-D victory

The Suns built their 21-point halftime lead by hitting 8-of-16 from 3.

They were lit from deep. Six different guys knocked it down from deep.

Phoenix came into the game 14th in the league in 3-point percentage at 36.3%. The Suns finished Saturday right at that mark at 36.7%.

The key was starting fast from 3, but the Suns did the job all night defensively.

Phoenix made it tougher on Grant, who shot just 4-of-10. They played him physical and trapped him hard.

Late in the first half, Booker and Torrey Craig consolidated on him in the corner to force the turnover and celebrated the result as Grant was getting up off the floor.

Portland shot 50.6% Friday, going 10-of-23 from 3 in scoring 108 points and this is without Damian Lillard (calf) and Anfernee Simons (foot).

Twenty-four hours later, the Suns limited the Blazers 38% shooting. The Blazers made nearly 50% of their 3s again, but only generated 15 attempts (made seven) with those two sitting out again.

This would be a nice first round series with everyone healthy, huh? Portland has been a surprise. Curious to see where they are midseason.

Paul off the ball

There he was sitting in the corner.

The pick-and-roll master who has spent most of his career throwing lobs to bigs and killing it from midrange is now sitting in the corner waiting for a pass.

Paul is third all-time in assists with 11,000-plus, is leading the league in dimes per game so far this season, but the Suns are having him play off the ball more.

He has said this has been in discussion for a couple of years and likes the idea of playing off the ball. This is a way to conserve his energy as bringing the ball up and initiating offense can be taxing.

Paul is 37, not 27.

The Suns may be better for it because other guys outside of Paul and Booker are making plays. So come playoff time, if teams double him or Booker, the remaining three on the floor can make teams pay.

However, Paul is a rhythm player like most, if not every NBA player.

So how does he get in rhythm without being the primary ball handler.

That may be as big as deal and anything else for him and the Suns moving through this early part of the season. The Suns know they can always go back to Paul in pick-and-roll, but they're thinking down the line, not right now.

Best believe it's serious

Still no official word on Johnson’s knee in terms of the severity of the injury.

Sources informed The Republic the MRI has been done and Johnson was at the arena Saturday.

Here’s the deal.

It’s serious because it has taken the team longer than 24 hours to say what it is. When it’s say a sprain or contusion, the team reveals that within an hour or at least before the conclusion of the game.

So while the Suns haven’t made an official announcement and The Athletic is reporting the team “fears” Johnson tore his meniscus, Johnson will be out an extended time.

The question is for how long.

The answer is case by case, but the Suns pray he doesn’t miss the rest of the season like James Wiseman did after suffering a right meniscus tear in April 2021. He had surgery and missed the entire 2021-22 championship season for the Warriors.

He’s looking good in his return, but the Warriors still won a title without the big man.

Craig and Saric

Not so sure Phoenix can do that without Johnson. He’s their best shooter from range, obviously stretches the floor and has improved defensively.

If Johnson is ruled out for the rest of the season, Suns General Manager James Jones should be moved do something as far as moving Jae Crowder to get someone in return.

Suns can manage without Johnson.

Craig is having a career start shooting from 3. He always defended multiple positions, got on the offense glass, but he’s hitting 3s and was even creating for others Saturday.

Now this is without a new addition in a trade. Whoever that guy is could change everything.

With Booker, Paul, Ayton and Bridges, Suns have the talent to compete for a title, but Johnson is such a good fit in the starting lineup because he doesn’t need plays run for him to score.

Starting with Embiid in Philly

Deandre Ayton wants to make a team.

All-Star team. All-Defensive team.

One or the other, but making both would be better.

He can start making an early case against some of the game's best bigs on this four-game road trip starting with Joel Embiid.

Now Embiid hasn't played so far in November as he's Philadelphia's last three games with knee recovery and a non-COVID illness. If he's back, Ayton will matchup with a guy who has essentially dominated him in their battles.

Up next, Rudy Gobert.

Ayton gave Towns the business in Minnesota late last season, will probably get a taste of him Wednesday, but Gobert, arguably the league's best defensive big, will be the primary matchup, if Gobert's back from health and safety protocols.

Remember, Ayton was out with the ankle injury when Minnesota visited Phoenix.

Orlando doesn't have a great big, but Wendell Carter Jr. can pose problems.

Got 7-2 Bol Bol down there, too.

Then Phoenix ends the trip next Monday at Miami where Bam Adebayo resides. A guy who can take him out on the perimeter and use his handles to make plays.

Tall order, but one Ayton can show he's worthy of consideration for one of those teams.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 takeaways from Suns rematch victory over Blazers