Suns at Trail Blazers
The Phoenix Suns snapped an eight-game slide with a 112-110 victory at Sacramento on Saturday and are hoping to carry that momentum through the rest of the road trip. The Suns, who began the four-game trip with a loss at Golden State before pulling out of the funk against the Kings, continue the trek by visiting the slumping Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
Phoenix suffered five single-digit losses during the slide, including three by two or fewer points, and had to survive a missed 3-point attempt at the buzzer on Saturday to come away with the win at Sacramento. "I think it's big for us and I hope we use the things that worked well for us in this game and hopefully continue," Suns star guard Devin Booker, who collected 32 points and 10 assists in the victory, told reporters. "Tough game tonight. An emotional game and finally breaking the streak. So, hopefully we can keep it going." The Trail Blazers dropped each of their last three games by single figures, capped by a 128-120 home setback on Saturday against the Western Conference-best Los Angeles Lakers. "I was really pleased with the way we competed," Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "We were never really out of it until the end. They're a really good team, especially when they're at full strength. ... I like the way we competed."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Arizona (Phoenix), NBCS Northwest (Portland)
ABOUT THE SUNS (12-20): Small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. stepped up in Saturday's win with 20 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and five assists in 41 minutes despite playing through a groin injury. "It's amazing to break the losing streak that we had," Oubre told reporters. "We did it the right way, too. We competed for 48 (minutes). Credit to (Sacramento), they fought as well. They didn't give up. That's how hard it is to win in this league." Oubre, who went 2-of-4 from beyond the arc on Saturday after going 1-of-14 over the previous three contests, is averaging career highs of 17.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in his first full season with Phoenix.
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (14-19): Portland's series of injuries continued Saturday when power forward Skal Labissiere, who was making his first start of the season, left after three minutes with a knee injury and did not return. "I don't care who's on the floor or what we're dealing with as far as injuries or what we're up against," All-Star point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. "I mean, we're all professionals. People pay a lot of money to come see us play and we get paid a lot of money to show up and do our jobs and perform." Lillard did his job with 31 points and nine assists in Saturday's setback and is trying to carry a team missing center Jusuf Nurkic (leg), guard Rodney Hood (Achilles) and forward Zach Collins (shoulder) with long-term injuries.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Suns C Deandre Ayton (ankle) sat out the last five games and remains day-to-day.
2. Trail Blazers SF Mario Hezonja (back) missed the last four games and is day-to-day.
3. Portland owns an 11-game winning streak in the series, most recently earning a 111-110 victory at Phoenix on Dec. 16.