The Portland Trail Blazers open the 2026-27 season Wednesday at the Moda Center with a 7 p.m. PT tip-off against the Phoenix Suns. Well, probably past that time, knowing the NBA.
It's a good initial test to see how much these offseason moves have worked out, seeing as this was the team Portland faced in last year's Play-In. They enter the contest as slight favorites playing at home, which is a promising sign that things could get off to a strong start with this new era under first-year head coach Micah Nori.
Fans have these options available to tune in to the official start of that era of hoops in Portland: KUNP 2.2 (locally), Rip City Television Network and BlazerVision.
Portland Trail Blazers injury report
This outcome could largely depend on the injury status of Portland's All-Star, Deni Avdija. He had 41 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds, carrying the Blazers to their 114-110 Play-In win last time these teams met. The Blazers at least have more offensive weapons to make up for it, but that would certainly make things much more challenging facing what remains an underrated Suns squad.
Here is Portland's injury report:
OUT
- Branden Carlson (Concussion Protocol)
- Shaedon Sharpe (R Meniscus)
- Chris Youngblood (L Ankle Soreness)
QUESTIONABLE
- Deni Avdija (R Ankle Soreness)
- Micah Potter (Illness)
Phoenix Suns injury report
Here is Phoenix's injury report:
OUT
- Mark Williams (Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE
- Luke Kennard (L Knee)
Storylines
Damian Lillard's homecoming
Damian Lillard's return to the Moda Center should have this crowd more electric than it's been in quite some time. But it's not only the feel-good story but also seeing how he plays in his first meaningful game back from the Achilles injury.
We know he can space the floor for Portland, but is that same burst there to make him a star again in this league?
There's plenty of storylines within the general storyline of Lillard's return. This game should be telling with regard to how much Portland can expect and rely on its veteran guard this season.
Ja Morant's debut
Who’s the new guy? @djwicked #Portland #Blazers #WhiteStag #DJWicked #Trailblazers pic.twitter.com/KSZYO8ta4A
— djwicked (@djwicked) October 21, 2026
It also should give Portland a better sense of what this team looks like following the Ja Morant trade. His unselfishness and playmaking proved to outweigh any defensive and shooting concerns in the preseason. Will that carry over to the regular season, and most importantly, will this guard-heavy roster actually work?
The Blazers added much more talent this summer, but also gave Micah Nori a lot more decisions to make in his first year with immediate playoff expectations and job security on the line thanks to a controversial contract.
Micah Nori's starting lineup decision
The first test for Nori is who starts. It seems as though the locks are currently: Damian Lillard, Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Donovan Clingan. That could potentially leave the final spot between Jrue Holiday and Ja Morant. Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report mentioned on Bluesky that Micah Nori "strongly hinted" Morant would be the one starting.
Maybe Nori doesn't even know himself yet what the best combination is, saying that this team has "a lot of different ways to go to end things." It's clear they viewed this added backcourt talent as a luxury that gives them flexibility. But eventually something has to give.
Prediction
The Suns traded Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale for Miles Bridges this summer, giving themselves an upgrade at forward. That fit is far easier to see compared to Portland's with Ja Morant, making the Blazers the more volatile team when it comes to predicting how their seasons will go.
On paper, the Blazers have the more talented roster, which gives them that star power to have a high enough ceiling to make a playoff run in the Western Conference. They have ambitious goals of becoming a 50+ win team this season and securing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. That's not going to come easy, with an immediate test against another playoff-caliber team in the Suns.
Ultimately, it depends on the status of Avdija. But assuming he's able to go, Portland's electric home court for Lillard's return at the Moda Center should give them enough energy to pull off the win. With Williams out for the Suns, look for Clingan and the Blazers' frontcourt to capitalize on the size advantage inside.
There will be growing pains in the backcourt as they figure out the fit. It's also reasonable to expect some rust from both Morant and Lillard in their debuts. But there's going to be too much talent and home crowd energy to overwhelm Phoenix in the season opener.
Blazers 115, Suns 110
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