Blazers' rebounding meets a Suns defense ranked last in the NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers (5-1), owners of the league's fourth-best offense, visit the Phoenix Suns (1-4) on Wednesday, November 4, in a game that turns on a Suns defense rated worst in the NBA and last on the glass.

Portland scores 118.2 points per 100 possessions. Phoenix allows 121.7, more than any team in the league, and opponents post an effective field goal percentage of 57.1% against it, 28th.

Half of the Blazers' shots come from three, a 50.5% rate that ranks second. That volume meets a defense that already gives up good looks, so Portland's shooters should get their chances.

The boards tilt the same way. Phoenix secures 66% of opponents' misses, last in the league, while Portland grabs 30.5% of its own, sixth. Every Blazers miss stays alive.

Donovan Clingan is the man who cashes in. He averages 10.3 rebounds, four of them on the offensive end, and blocks 2.2 shots a game.

Deni Avdija leads Portland with 23.8 points a game on 48.5% shooting. Behind him sits a defense 10th in rating and second on the defensive glass, so opponents rarely get a second shot.

Devin Booker carries the Suns with 23 points and 5.2 assists a game. He makes 93.3% of his free throws, but Phoenix seldom gets to the line: the Suns rank 25th in free-throw rate.

Collin Gillespie adds 2.8 steals a game.

Portland plays without two guards. Ja Morant, the team leader with 5.5 assists, is out and expected back Tuesday, December 1. Shaedon Sharpe, who averages 28.3 minutes, is out until Tuesday, March 2. Two more Blazers are out.

Phoenix is missing size. Center Mark Williams, who logs 22.9 minutes a game, is out, which thins a frontcourt already losing the rebounding fight. Jordan Goodwin and Rasheer Fleming are questionable.

The Blazers won the first meeting 124-83 on Wednesday, October 21, and have won their last two on the road, at Denver and Utah. The Suns have lost three straight since their only win, most recently 116-113 at Golden State.

Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET in Phoenix. Sportsbooks' prices give Portland a 58% chance to win; our projection, built from the players available, has the Blazers at 57% and ahead by 2.2 points.