The Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns open their 2026-27 NBA Regular Season campaigns on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Moda Center in Portland. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. local time at the arena), with live coverage in the United States available on Rip City TV (KUNP), AZFamily, NBA League Pass, BlazerVision, Suns+, and Fubo.
Both Western Conference franchises enter the matchup with a 0-0 record following competitive 2025-26 seasons. Last campaign, the Phoenix Suns finished the regular season with a 45-37 record and advanced through the Play-In tournament before being swept in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the Portland Trail Blazers posted a 42-40 mark to end their playoff drought before facing the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round. In the most recent official meeting between the two clubs on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, during the Western Conference Play-In tournament in Phoenix, the Portland Trail Blazers erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Phoenix Suns 114-110, led by 41 points and 12 assists from forward Deni Avdija.
Where to watch Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns live
Fans in the United States have six official television and digital options to follow the regular-season opener live:
- Rip City TV (KUNP) (over-the-air TV)
- AZFamily (over-the-air TV)
- NBA League Pass (pay-per-view)
- BlazerVision (streaming)
- Suns+ (streaming)
- Fubo (streaming)
Start time and venue for Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns
Check the confirmed schedule and location details for the Western Conference matchup:
- Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Start time in the United States: 10 p.m. ET (22:00 America/New_York)
- Local arena time: 7 p.m. PT (19:00 America/Los_Angeles)
- Venue: Moda Center, in Portland, Oregon
- Competition and stage: NBA (North American basketball league) — Regular Season
Read also: San Antonio Spurs vs Oklahoma City Thunder: where to watch live and start time (NBA, Oct 20)
How the Portland Trail Blazers arrive for the matchup
The Portland Trail Blazers are led by head coach Micah Nori, who makes his debut as an NBA head coach after five seasons as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves, taking over the position left after the departure of interim coach Tiago Splitter. The team features the return of 36-year-old guard Damian Lillard, who is recovered from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in the 2025 playoffs that sidelined him for the entire past season. Lillard pairs in the backcourt with 27-year-old guard Ja Morant, recently acquired in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies that involved the departures of Jerami Grant and Kris Murray.
Portland’s probable starting lineup consists of Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, and Donovan Clingan. All-Star forward Deni Avdija, who averaged 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists across 66 games in the 2025-26 season, is listed as questionable due to right ankle soreness; if he cannot play, veteran guard Jrue Holiday is projected to enter the starting five, while Scoot Henderson is also part of the rotation off the bench. Center Micah Potter is likewise listed as questionable due to an illness, with both questionable players set to have their participation decided after the pre-game shootaround. On the official injury report, shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe (right meniscus surgery), center Branden Carlson (concussion protocol), and shooting guard Chris Youngblood (left ankle soreness) are confirmed out. Under NBA rules, no players enter the season suspended by yellow cards, as automatic suspensions for technical fouls only occur after accumulating 16 technical fouls during the regular season.
“Regardless of how we start, I’m more concerned of the combinations throughout it. The positive for us is we have a lot of different ways to go to end things,” said Micah Nori, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. He also detailed the offensive structure: “(The lineup) gives you a facilitator in Ja that’s looking to push pace and use him as a secondary scorer. Obviously, you have the scoring ability of Dame and it allows Deni to get as many touches that he needs to be efficient.” Guard Damian Lillard added: “If I get the ball and I’m advancing the ball ahead to Ja Morant, I feel pretty good about it. And if I’m advancing the ball to Deni Avdija, I feel good about it. And for both of those guys, if they are attacking the rim, attacking the paint, and they’re kicking the ball out to me for the 3-pointer, I think they should feel great about that.”
How the Phoenix Suns arrive for the matchup
Head coach Jordan Ott begins his second season in charge of the Phoenix Suns after the franchise reshaped its roster for the 2026-27 campaign. The club signed forward Miles Bridges and guard Luke Kennard while trading away Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. Ahead of the season opener, center Oso Ighodaro also signed a three-year, $29 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns.
The probable starting lineup for the Phoenix Suns includes Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Oso Ighodaro, with young center Khaman Maluach serving as the second center option in the rotation. Although projections point to Ighodaro starting, Jordan Ott has not officially announced whether he will open the game with Ighodaro or Maluach. Starting center Mark Williams is a confirmed absence following left shoulder surgery to repair a labrum injury suffered during preseason workouts, with his return projected for after New Year’s, around February 2027. Guard Luke Kennard is listed as questionable with left knee tendinopathy, though he practiced in full on the eve of the game and will have his status finalized after the pre-game shootaround.
“We’re ready. We’re ready for the regular season. We felt it there. We just talked about it in the locker room. Preseason is done. We’ll watch film on it tomorrow and put it all to an end. We’re gonna be ready, we’ll be ready to go. These guys can feel it, we all can feel it, the crowd can feel it, we’re ready for the regular season,” stated Jordan Ott, head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
Read also: New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers: where to watch live and start time (NBA, Oct 20)
Officiating crew for Portland Trail Blazers vs Phoenix Suns
The officiating assignments (Crew Chief, Referee, and Umpire) for the October 21, 2026 games had not been released at the time of reporting, as the NBA publishes the official referee designations on the day of each game.
