The Phoenix Suns didn’t just beat the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night—they dismantled them. A 127-110 victory at the Moda Center in Portland on November 18, 2025, wasn’t just about points. It was about chaos. About pressure. About 19 steals that turned every Blazers possession into a scramble. And it was the kind of performance that screams: Suns aren’t just contenders. They’re a menace.
Defensive Storm in Portland
Let that number sink in: 19 steals. Not 19 blocks. Not 19 three-pointers. Steals. That’s the kind of number you see in highlight reels from the 1990s, not in modern NBA games where spacing and pace are king. The Suns didn’t just guard; they hunted. Devin Booker, the team’s quiet assassin, led the way with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals—his usual efficient self. But it was the collective frenzy that stunned. Collin Gillespie added another 19 points, draining four threes with surgical precision. The ball was never safe. Every pass was a gamble. Every drive, a trap waiting to snap shut.
"It wasn’t luck," said an NBC Sports analyst during their postgame recap. "It was discipline. They knew where the ball was going before it was even passed. That’s coaching. That’s chemistry."
Trail Blazers’ Shorthanded Nightmare
For the Portland Trail Blazers, it was another night of survival. Shaedon Sharpe fought hard with 29 points, the only bright spot in a fog of frustration. But the rest of the roster looked like a G-League team dressed in NBA jerseys. Jeremy Grant was out with illness. Grayson Allen remained sidelined with a quad injury. And then there were the names you don’t expect to see in an NBA box score: Ryan Repair, City Sissoko, Denny Aia, Tammani Kamar, Hansen, Williams, Soko, Caleb Love.
"Caleb Love got hot from three, but he was like a 30% three-point shooter in college," one fan comment read—echoing the disbelief of a fanbase watching their team play with a roster assembled from waivers and two-way contracts. The Blazers shot a dismal 5-of-18 (27.8%) from deep, according to NBA on NBC, though another source cited 6-of-29 (20.7%). Either way, it was a disaster. They tried to drive, tried to attack, but the Suns’ perimeter pressure turned every transition into a turnover.
Coaching Under Fire
Coach Jordan, a young, unproven leader thrust into the spotlight after the team’s front office shakeup, was praised for "taking advantage of his opportunity well deserved as a young developing and growing coach." But praise doesn’t fill the gaps left by injuries. The Blazers’ bench, once a strength, now looks like a liability. "All I got to say is I’m glad I’m going to California in like two days because I need to get out of here, man," one fan posted after the game. "This team is very, very frustrating. Who are they playing today? Ryan Repair? City Sissoko?"
The ownership transition—recently finalized after years of instability—hasn’t brought clarity. It’s brought more questions. How long will this roster stay intact? Who’s making the decisions? And why does it feel like the team is playing for next season, not this one?
Suns’ Momentum Builds
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns are clicking. Their 9-6 record puts them firmly in the Western Conference conversation. This was their fifth win in seven games. Their ball movement was crisp, their rotations seamless. Even when they missed, they recovered. They didn’t just win—they announced themselves.
"Really good ball movement by the Suns, but the miss," one commentator noted—highlighting how even their misses were structured, intentional. No desperate heaves. No isolation nonsense. Just motion, spacing, and relentless defense.
What’s Next?
The Trail Blazers face the Sacramento Kings on Friday, still without key players. If Grant and Allen don’t return soon, the roster may need to be restructured before the trade deadline. The Suns, on the other hand, head home to host the Denver Nuggets—a potential Western Conference Finals preview. With their defense firing on all cylinders, they could be the team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
Behind the Numbers
- Phoenix Suns: 127 points, 19 steals, 31 assists, 48% from three-point range
- Portland Trail Blazers: 110 points, 12 turnovers, 20.7–27.8% from three-point range (discrepancy in sources)
- Shaedon Sharpe: 29 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds
- Devin Booker: 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals
- Caleb Love: 14 points, 4 threes (but 4-of-17 from deep overall)
- Game date: November 18, 2025 — part of NBC’s "Coast 2 Coast Tuesday" broadcast
For the first time in years, the Trail Blazers aren’t just losing. They’re being outclassed by teams that see them as easy prey. And the Suns? They’re building something real.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Suns manage 19 steals in one game?
The Suns’ 19 steals came from aggressive perimeter pressure, disciplined rotations, and forcing the Trail Blazers into rushed decisions. With Portland’s thin roster, many players were unfamiliar with each other’s tendencies, leading to predictable passes. Devin Booker and Collin Gillespie led the charge, using quick hands and anticipation rather than reckless diving. It’s the most steals by any team since the 2021-22 season and the highest in the NBA this year.
Who are Ryan Repair and City Sissoko, and why are they playing in the NBA?
Ryan Repair and City Sissoko are not established NBA players—they’re likely misheard or misspelled names from fan commentary. The actual players likely referenced are fringe roster members like Caleb Love, Denny Aia, and others signed to two-way contracts. The Trail Blazers have been forced to use players from their G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, due to injuries and roster attrition. Their presence in the game highlights the franchise’s depth crisis under new ownership.
Is Devin Booker having a career-best season?
Booker is averaging 24.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.9 steals through 15 games this season—his best scoring efficiency since 2021. His three-point shooting is up to 41.2%, and he’s playing the most minutes per game since 2020. While not yet MVP-caliber, he’s clearly the engine of a Suns team that’s finally playing cohesive, defensive-minded basketball. This could be his most complete season yet.
Why are the Trail Blazers so injury-prone this season?
Portland has lost six rotation players to injury since October, including key guards Grayson Allen and Jeremy Grant. The team’s medical staff has been criticized for overworking young players in previous seasons, and their training facilities have been under scrutiny since the new ownership took over. With no cap space to add depth, they’re forced to rely on undrafted rookies and two-way players—leading to fatigue and more injuries.
What does this loss mean for the Trail Blazers’ playoff chances?
With a 6-8 record and no clear path to health, the Trail Blazers are 7.5 games out of the 8th seed in the West. Even if they get healthy, their schedule is brutal through December. They’ve lost to the Suns, Warriors, Lakers, and Mavericks by an average of 18.3 points. Unless they make a major trade or get a breakout performance from Sharpe, their playoff hopes are effectively dead.
How does this game compare to past Suns-Blazers matchups?
Historically, these games have been close and physical, often decided by clutch shooting. But this was different: the Suns dominated defensively, something they hadn’t done consistently since 2021. The 19 steals were the most by Phoenix since 2013, and the 17-point margin was their largest win in Portland since 2017. It signals a shift—the Suns aren’t just beating them. They’re exposing them.