Suns' turnover pressure meets Blazers' ball-security problem

Phoenix (45-37), third in the NBA at forcing turnovers last season, visits Portland (42-40), the league's worst team at keeping the ball, on Wednesday, October 21, at 10:00 PM ET.

Ratings and records here are from last season, with this season's rosters. Portland turned the ball over on 14 percent of its possessions, the league's highest rate.

Phoenix took it away at a 13.9 rate, third best, so the Suns can turn that habit into easy points.

The Trail Blazers have an answer on the glass. They grabbed 31.3 percent of their own misses, second in the league, and Phoenix secured only 71.9 percent of opponents' misses, 27th. Donovan Clingan, who averaged 11.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks, sits at the center of that fight.

Devin Booker carries Phoenix after averaging 26.1 points and six assists. The Suns shot free throws at the second-lowest rate in the league, so Booker's 87.3 percent from the line matters when they do get there.

Deni Avdija, who averaged 24.2 points for Portland, is day-to-day. Ja Morant averaged 8.1 assists and gives the Blazers a playmaker to set against Phoenix's pressure.

Center Mark Williams is out for Phoenix, with an expected return of Wednesday, February 3. He averaged eight rebounds and 0.9 blocks. Luke Kennard is day-to-day.

Portland is thinner. Shaedon Sharpe is out until Tuesday, March 2, and Micah Potter is day-to-day. Two more Blazers are out, with Friday, October 23 as their expected return.

Both teams ended last season with losses. The Suns dropped four straight in the playoffs to Oklahoma City, the last 131-122, and the Blazers lost their series to San Antonio.

The game is in Portland. Sportsbooks' prices give the Trail Blazers a 56% chance to win, and Keel's projection, built from the players available, has them at 58%.