PORTLAND – The Portland Trail Blazers aren't the same team that lost their first two matchups against the Phoenix Suns this season. They're now 7-1 in their last eight games after taking down the Suns, 127-108, Saturday night before a crowd of 17.421 at Moda Center in the second of a road back-to-back for Phoenix (25-23).

Late last season, Ayton put together an impressive 15-game run, averaging 23.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. But those nights came when the team was in full-on tank mode with many of the team’s other key players on the injured list. The team went 4-11 in those games.