Damian Lillard marked his return to regular-season action with 25 points as the Portland Trail Blazers overwhelmed the Phoenix Suns 124-83 on Wednesday night at the Moda Center. Portland opened the game with a 21-0 run and led by as many as 52 points in a dominant season-opening performance.
Lillard, playing his first regular-season game since rejoining Portland, made seven of 12 shots from the field and six of 10 three-point attempts. He also went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, adding six assists and three rebounds in 24 minutes.
The veteran guard spent his first 11 NBA seasons with Portland before playing two years with the Milwaukee Bucks. He returned to the Blazers in the summer of 2025 but missed the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
Portland wasted little time taking control. Three-pointers from Lillard, Ja Morant, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan helped the Blazers build their 21-0 advantage. Phoenix did not score until free throws with 5:54 remaining in the first quarter, and Portland finished the period ahead 43-12.
Lillard then connected on back-to-back three-pointers to stretch the margin to 38-8. The Blazers carried a 72-39 lead into halftime and continued to pull away after the break, outscoring Phoenix 35-27 in the third quarter.
Morant, acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in an offseason trade that sent Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to Memphis, contributed 14 points and eight assists in his Portland debut. Toumani Camara added 18 points, while Avdija recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds after being listed as a game-time decision with a right ankle injury.
Portland, which ended a five-year postseason drought last season, began its first campaign under head coach Micah Nori with a convincing win. Nori took over after Tiago Splitter left for the Chicago Bulls.
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Phoenix struggled throughout the night, shooting 36% from the field and making just six of 31 three-point attempts. Devin Booker led the Suns with 23 points, going 7-for-13 from the field and 9-for-9 at the free-throw line. No other Phoenix starter scored more than 10 points.
With the outcome long decided, Nori pulled Portland’s starters early in the fourth quarter. The Blazers will visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday, while the Suns will host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
