Kevin Durant's 40 points not enough as Phoenix Suns lose to Portland Trail Blazers

The Phoenix Suns (14-13) fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 109-104, on the road Tuesday night after taking a big early lead, only to see the Blazers storm back and surge ahead in the second half.

Portland (7-19) snapped a seven-game losing streak, and Phoenix has dropped seven of its last 10 games.

Kevin Durant scored 40 points, one shy of his season-high, including 11 in the fourth quarter for Phoenix. He added five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Devin Booker scored 26 points and had a team-high seven assists.

The Blazers' Deandre Ayton had 16 points, 15 rebounds and three assists against his former team. Portland's top two offensive threats Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons had 22 and 23 points, respectively.

After Phoenix played fluid in the first quarter for a commanding 16-point lead on 70% shooting, including 3-of-6 from the arc, Phoenix's 3-point shooting tapered. They finished 5-of-23 total from deep against the NBA's third-best team in defending against the 3.

Phoenix continues its road trip on Friday at the Western Conference's fourth-place team in the Sacramento Kings.

Analysis: Devin Booker, Suns 'frustrated,' fall to Deandre Ayton, Trail Blazers

Durant saving Phoenix, Portland takes 3rd quarter lead

Portland swung the lead in its favor, 87-81, in the third and continued it into the 4th.

Kevin Durant scored eight of his 29 points (12-of-20 shooting) in the period, and Devin Booker struggled hitting just 1-of-6 for just three of his 20 total points.

Jerami Grant drove Portland for 13 points out of his 20 for the game thus far.

Portland began the second half outdueling Phoenix 22-6, took its first lead of the game 68-67 on Malcolm Brogdon’s 3 around the six-minute mark.

Portland, one of the league’s worst 3-point shooting teams, made six 3s in the third and are 12-of-20 from the perimeter overall. Portland got its biggest lead of nine upon two minutes left. Phoenix had a 6-3 run in the closing minutes as Brogdon (11 points, three 3s) hit a triple to finalize the score.

Blazers cut lead, Suns rise again behind Booker, Durant

Phoenix is up 61-48 over Portland at the intermission.

Phoenix's Kevin and Devin Show tandem has combined for more than half of the team's point total. Kevin Durant (21 points) scored 12 and Devin Booker (17) chipped in eight in the second period.

Through four minutes until shortly after the quarter’s midpoint, Phoenix went cold missing six of its seven shot attempts. Portland outscored Phoenix 18-4 and cut the lead to two on Deandre Ayton’s 17-footer at 5:30 left. Phoenix found its groove again and countered the Portland run by going on a 16-3 surge over the last three minutes of the half.

Portland's Scoot Henderson and Jabari Walker have come off the bench for team-highs of nine points.

Suns come out running for sizable 1st quarter lead

Phoenix is ahead of Portland, 36-20, after the opening period's close.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are tied for nine points to lead all scorers. Durant hit a running mid-range floater at the buzzer.

Phoenix sprinted out the gate to a 21-8 lead from a 14-3 run and never lost the advantage on 70% shooting to Portland's 33%. The team had nearly flawless ball movement, dishing out 10 assists, and capitalized on Portland's eight turnovers including six steals for 11 points.

Portland's Jerami Grant and its top draft pick Scoot Henderson are tied for the current team-high seven points.

Suns' Bates-Diop late scratch

Phoenix forward Keita Bates-Diop has been ruled out just minutes before the tip-off from a migrane. He's been one of Phoenix's better defenders off the bench.

Bates-Diop has started in eight of his 22 appearances this season, averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.5 steals in nearly 18 minutes per game.

Starting lineups

Phoenix will start Devin Booker, Grayson Allen (hamstring) as he's been upgraded to available, Nassir Little and Kevin Durant at forward, plus Jusuf Nurkic in the middle.

Portland is opening with Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe in the backcourt, Jerami Grant, former Suns second-round draft pick Toumani Camara, and Deandre Ayton at the five.

Suns, Blazers in 2nd meeting since Ayton trade

Tuesday is the second meeting this regular season since Phoenix sent its former starting center and its only No. 1 overall pick in franchise history Deandre Ayton to Portland. The Suns won the first matchup at Footprint Center, 120-107.

Ayton was dealt with Toumani Camara in a three-team trade for the team's current starting pivot Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little and since-waived and current Brooklyn Nets guard Keon Johnson, one week before training camp began in October.

The Milwaukee Bucks were the other team involved in the transaction. They acquired All-Star Damian Lillard from Portland for Jrue Holiday, who was flipped in another trade to the Boston Celtics a week later. Phoenix landed Grayson Allen from Milwaukee, and he's started in Phoenix's backcourt for 21 games.

Ayton's average for Portland is 12.5 points on 57.6% shooting, and his 10.5 rebounds per game is the league's ninth-best.

Phoenix beat Portland twice in a home-and-home during the preseason, and faces Portland two more times this season on New Year's Day and Jan. 14.

Suns injury report

Allen (right hamstring soreness) is probable and Little (orbital fracture) is available against Portland. Josh Okogie (right hip), Bradley Beal (right ankle sprain), and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery) are out.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant's 40 points can't save Suns in loss to Trail Blazers