Trail Blazers at Suns
All-Star guard Damian Lillard energized Portland in his return from a groin injury and looks to build on the effort when the Trail Blazers visit the Phoenix Suns on Friday. Lillard missed six games due to a groin injury but made four 3-pointers and scored 22 points in Wednesday's 125-104 home win over the Washington Wizards.
Lillard wasn't under a minutes restriction and looked spry in his return, and he was one of four Trail Blazers to top 20 points in the team's second straight triumph. "I felt pretty good," Lillard told reporters afterward. "I moved pretty well, I was able to do a lot of things. I didn't want to overdo it when I saw the kind of game we were playing - the balance was good. We had a comfortable lead, I picked my moments to explode, take off and cut hard. Get in the stance and fight over screens, and I didn't feel restricted." While Portland is 3 1/2 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, Phoenix has lost straight four games and is seven games off the pace. The Suns will likely be without center Deandre Ayton after the second-year pro injured an ankle in Tuesday's 123-114 home loss against the Toronto Raptors.
TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Northwest, FS Arizona
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (28-35): Veteran forward Carmelo Anthony scored a team-best 25 points against Washington to break out of a funk that saw him average 12 points over the previous four games. "I'm just taking my time. The ball was going in," Anthony said in a postgame television interview. "My teammates found me. We were playing in rhythm. I think overall we played a great game. We shared the ball and had five guys in double figures." Center Hassan Whiteside contributed 24 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots, shooting guard CJ McCollum scored 22 points and forward Trevor Ariza added 15 points.
ABOUT THE SUNS (24-38): Ayton underwent an MRI exam on Wednesday and was wearing a boot to protect his left ankle and coach Monty Williams doesn't expect to see his big man on the floor against Portland. "He didn't do anything (in practice)," Williams told reporters after Wednesday's workout. "We'll find out more once we get an official word. Right now, he'll just be in a walking boot until we find out more." The injury occurred on the same day that small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. underwent surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee and was ruled out for at least four weeks.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Suns posted a 122-116 road victory on Dec. 30 to end an 11-game losing streak against the Trail Blazers.
2. Phoenix All-Star SG Devin Booker scored 22 points against Toronto and exceeded 20 in 10 of the past 12 games.
3. Portland G Gary Trent Jr. had two points on 1-of-7 shooting versus Washington after averaging 19.7 points over the previous three games.