Miles Bridges Makes Suns Debut in Season Opener Loss to Trail Blazers
The veteran forward scored eight points in his first regular-season appearance for Phoenix following a preseason ankle injury.
Miles Bridges made his official regular-season debut for the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, finishing with eight points in a 41-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Bridges logged 29 minutes of playing time on the court as the Suns tipped off their new campaign on the road.
The veteran forward shot 3-of-11 from the field and converted both of his free-throw attempts. In addition to his eight points, Bridges contributed four rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot during a difficult night for the Phoenix squad against Portland's deep reserves.
Team observers noted that an early preseason ankle injury may have impacted his conditioning and performance. The coaching staff plans to give Bridges more playing time moving forward to help him build stamina and seamlessly integrate into a lineup featuring multiple ball-dominant players.
While Bridges established a reputation for solid category-league production during his tenure in Charlotte, it remains to be seen how effectively that production will translate to Phoenix. Wednesday's matchup offered the first true test of his fit within the team's rotation.
The matchup also marked a significant milestone for Phoenix's starting lineup. Head coach Jordan Ott named Bridges part of the opening five alongside Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and starting center Khaman Maluach.
Phoenix entered the contest looking to build upon chemistry shown during preseason action. However, the Trail Blazers capitalized on their home-court advantage and overwhelming speed in the open court to secure a decisive victory.
The Suns will look to rebound from the opening-night setback as they adjust to their new personnel and work toward establishing consistency early in the regular season.