SERIES HISTORY
ALL TIME: Suns lead, 128-109
PORTLAND HOME: Trail Blazers lead, 73-45
PHOENIX HOME: Suns lead, 83-36
SERIES NOTES
• Portland will take on Phoenix three times during the regular season, with the first matchup occurring in Portland on Oct. 21. The Trail Blazers make their only trip to the Valley of the Sun this season for a back-to-back matchup beginning on Nov. 4.
• LAST SEASON: The Trail Blazers lost the season series to the Suns in 2021-22, 1-3.
• In 35 career games against the Suns, Damian Lillard has scored 30-plus points 10 times.
• Jerami Grant averaged 28.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.00 steal and 1.00 block in three games against Phoenix last season.
NEWS AND NOTES
THE SHARPER IMAGE: Trail Blazers Rookie Shaedon Sharpe tallied 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting including 3-of-3 from distance. Sharpe is the first Blazer to score in double figures in his NBA debut since Jake Layman (17) in 2016. He's also the third Blazer in history to hit three or more 3-FG in their NBA debuts.
Most 3PM by a Blazer in NBA debut:
5......J. Layman (11/1/16 vs. GSW)
3......R. Fernandez (10/28/08 vs. LAL)
3......S. Sharpe (10/19/22 vs. SAC)
GRANTED: Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers in scoring with 23 points. His 23 points are the most in a Blazer debut since Josh Hart, who also scored 23 on February 12th of last season against the Knicks. Grant is the ninth player in Blazer history to record 23 or more points in their Blazer debut.
LEADING THE WAY: The Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups is in his second season with the team in 2022-23. Billups was hired as the 15th head coach in franchise history on June 27, 2021. His basketball pedigree includes five All-Star appearances, three All-NBA nods and the 2004 NBA Finals MVP award after leading the Detroit Pistons their third championship.
A LITTLE HART: Among all NBA players 6'7" and under, Josh Hart ranked fifth in rebounds per game during the 2021-22 season (7.2) while Nassir Little ranked 10th (5.6).
17 AGAIN: Trail Blazers rookie guard Shaedon Sharpe scored 27 points (10-13 FG, 1-4 3-PT, 6-6 FT) to go with two rebounds, one assist, three steals and two blocks against Maccabi Ra'anana on October 6. The last player as young as Sharpe (19 years, 129 days on Oct. 6) to score 27-plus points in a preseason game was Zion Williamson (19 years, 95 days) who finished with 29 points against Chicago on Oct. 9, 2019.
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE: The Trail Blazers signed guard Gary Payton II on July 6, adding a 2022 NBA Champion to the roster. Payton averaged career highs of 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals for the Warriors last season. He recorded three steals in both Game 5 and Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals.
VICTORY IN VEGAS: The Trail Blazers won the 2022 Las Vegas Summer League championship on July 17. Portland's 4-1 summer entry was led by Trail Blazers assistant coach Steve Hetzel and featured Greg Brown III, Keon Johnson, Shaedon Sharpe, Jabari Walker, and Trendon Watford. Watford was named the MVP of the championship game, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, three steals and one assist.
INJURY REPORT
Gary Payton II (Return to Competition Reconditioning), Trendon Watford (right hip), Olivier Sarr (right wrist) are OUT for Portland's Oct. 21 game against Phoenix.
As for the Suns, Jae Crowder (not with team) and Landry Shamet (left hip) are out for Friday's contest.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
All Portland Trail Blazers regular season and preseason games will be broadcast on the Trail Blazers Broadcasting flagship station, Rip City Radio 620 AM. Travis Demers begins his fourth full season providing play-by-play commentary for all home and away games, with Michael Holton adding commentary. On television, ROOT SPORTS PLUS will air 81 Trail Blazers regular season games featuring Kevin Calabro calling play-by-play, Lamar Hurd providing analysis and Brooke Olzendam reporting from the sideline. Between ROOT SPORTS PLUS, TNT and ESPN, all 82 regular season games will be televised. For all viewing options, visitwww.trailblazers.com/watch.