Devin Booker Struggles as Suns Lose Play-In Game

Phoenix's star guard had an off night as the team blew a late lead against the Trail Blazers.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:40pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette. The ball and court lines cut through the composition, creating a dynamic, multi-perspective visual representation of the game action.Devin Booker's off-night in a crucial play-in game exposes the Phoenix Suns' late-season struggles to close out tight contests.Phoenix Today

The Phoenix Suns fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 114-110 in Tuesday's NBA play-in game, with star guard Devin Booker struggling mightily. Booker scored just 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, missing five free throws and going 0-for-2 from 3-point range. The Suns had led by 11 points in the fourth quarter before collapsing down the stretch, a microcosm of their late-season woes. Booker took responsibility for the loss, saying the team needs to 'remain aggressive' and not let up with a lead. The defeat puts the Suns in a tough spot as they try to avoid missing the playoffs entirely.

Why it matters

Booker is the Suns' best player and a perennial All-Star, so his struggles in a crucial play-in game have raised concerns about Phoenix's playoff hopes. The team's inability to hold a late lead also highlights issues they've had closing out games in the second half of the season. This loss could have major implications for the Suns' offseason plans if they fail to make the playoffs.

The details

Booker scored 22 points but shot just 7-of-17 from the field and missed 5 of his 12 free throw attempts. He also went 0-for-2 from 3-point range. The Suns led by 11 points midway through the fourth quarter but collapsed down the stretch, allowing the Trail Blazers to rally for the victory. Booker took responsibility for the loss, saying the team needs to maintain its aggressiveness and not let up with a lead.

  • The Suns lost to the Trail Blazers 114-110 on Tuesday, April 15, 2026 in the NBA play-in tournament.
  • The Suns will play their next play-in game on Friday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Devin Booker

The star guard for the Phoenix Suns, a perennial NBA All-Star known for his scoring ability.

Jalen Green

The Suns' second-leading scorer in the loss to the Trail Blazers, pouring in 35 points.

Jordan Ott

The head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

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What they’re saying

“That's been the story of the end of our season so far. We just need to remain aggressive. We get a little lead and kind of slow down a little bit, and that's not what got us the lead in the first place. Just continue to play the next action and continue to play faster.”

— Devin Booker, Suns Guard

“Once you miss a couple, it just becomes a mental game. Overthinking something that I've put millions of reps”

— Devin Booker, Suns Guard

“Get Book the ball and get our spacing around him. He drove it. Jalen's guy helped, made the right play, got a pretty good look. [Jrue] Holiday got a great contest, and we were crashing on that. We ended up getting a rebound, got stripped.”

— Jordan Ott, Suns Head Coach

What’s next

The Suns will face either the San Antonio Spurs or the New Orleans Pelicans in the next round of the play-in tournament on Friday, April 18, 2026. They will need a bounce-back performance from Devin Booker to avoid elimination and secure a spot in the NBA playoffs.

The takeaway

Devin Booker's struggles in the Suns' play-in loss to the Trail Blazers have raised questions about Phoenix's ability to win close games and make a deep playoff run. The team's late-season collapse highlights the need for Booker and the supporting cast to play with more consistency and poise in high-pressure situations.