PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Collin Gillespie scored a career-high 30 points, Mark Williams had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the Phoenix Suns bounced back from a slow start for a 130-125 win over the reeling Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Grayson Allen also scored 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting and Jordan Goodwin had 16 points and 10 rebounds on a night when the Suns played without leading scorer Devin Booker (25.4 points per game), who was out with a right ankle sprain. Jalen Green was also out of the Suns' lineup.
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Portland Trail Blazers guard Blake Wesley, left, drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III, middle, grabs the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks, left, and center Mark Williams during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, right, dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, right, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, left, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Gillespie tied a career high with eight made 3-pointers and also had 10 assists.
Jerami Grant had 23 points to lead Portland, which lost its sixth straight game. Donovan Clingan had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Shaedon Sharpe added 19 points for Portland.
The Trail Blazers also played without their leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, Deni Avdija (25.5 points per game), who has a lower back strain and was just named to his first All-Star game.
Vit Krejci had five points in his Portland debut after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta.
Portland jumped to a 41-30 lead after one quarter but Phoenix pulled within 72-67 at halftime. The Suns took control by outscoring the Blazers 34-22 in the third quarter.
Williams’ layup with 3:55 left in the third quarter put the Suns ahead for good at 88-87.
The Trail Blazers turned the ball over 17 times, six more times than the Suns.
Suns: Return home to play Golden State on Thursday night.
Trail Blazers: Host Memphis on Friday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Blake Wesley, left, drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III, middle, grabs the ball against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks, left, and center Mark Williams during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe, right, dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen, right, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, left, dribbles against Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
MILAN (AP) — Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso left his role by mutual consent on Friday, three days after the national team failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.
The Italian soccer federation announced the news in a statement thanking Gattuso “for the dedication and passion” during his nine months in charge.
Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.
“With pain in my heart, not having achieved the goal we had set ourselves, I consider my experience on the national team bench to be over,” Gattuso said.
Gattuso’s departure comes a day after Italy’s soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned along with Gianluigi Buffon, who was the national team’s delegation chief.
The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.
Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.
Spalletti had also overseen a disappointing European Championship campaign in 2024, when titleholder Italy was knocked out in the round of 16 by Switzerland.
“I would like to thank Gattuso once again," Gravina said. "Because, in addition to being a special person, as a coach he has offered a valuable contribution, managing to bring enthusiasm back to the national team in just a few months.
“He has conveyed great pride in the national team jersey to the players and to the whole country.”
Under Gattuso, Italy went on a six-match winning streak before another loss to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.
Gattuso had been given a contract until the end of this summer’s World Cup, with an automatic renewal until 2028 if Italy returned to soccer's biggest stage.
“The Azzurri shirt is the most precious asset that exists in soccer, which is why it is right to immediately facilitate future coaching staff decisions,” Gattuso said.
“It was an honor to be able to lead the national team and do so also with a group of boys who have shown commitment and attachment to the shirt. The biggest thanks go to the fans, to all the Italians who have never failed to show their love and support for the national team in recent months.”
Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.
Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup before bolting to take over Saudi Arabia’s national team. He left that role in October 2024 and is currently coach at Al-Sadd in Qatar.
Inzaghi steered Inter Milan to the Serie A title in 2024 and now manages Saudi club Al-Hilal.
Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.
Allegri is coach at AC Milan.
Italy will play two friendly matches in June but is unlikely to have a new coach by then, given that the election for a new FIGC president won't take place until June 22.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso greets Federico Dimarco during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso directs his team during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures from the touchline during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso walks off the pitch after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
