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Who will the Suns face in Portland’s opening night lineup?

The Phoenix Suns’ opening-night matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers could hinge on which guards Portland’s crowded backcourt sends out to start. With Damian Lillard still recovering from a torn Achilles, the Blazers face a logjam that includes NBA champion Jrue Holiday, 2023 draft pick Scoot Henderson, and Ja Morant—all competing for minutes.

Holiday, now in his 18th season, remains the team’s most reliable point guard, averaging 16 points and six assists per game last season while shooting 38% from three. Meanwhile, Henderson, who played just 30 games last year after a hamstring injury, showed flashes of potential in the playoffs, scoring 31 points in a single game against the Spurs.

Shaedon Sharpe, another offensive threat, is out until at least February with a torn meniscus, removing one key variable from the equation. With Henderson likely slotted as a reserve and Morant’s production declining, Holiday emerges as the most probable starter for Portland’s opener, though the Blazers’ coaching staff has yet to finalize the lineup.

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