Lillard returns with 25 points, Morant debuts and the Blazers rout the Suns 124-83

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Damian Lillard scored 25 points in his first regular-season game since rejoining the Trail Blazers, leading Portland to a 124-83 season-opening rout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Offseason addition Ja Morant had 14 points and eight assists for the Blazers, who jumped out to a 21-0 lead and led by as many as 52 points. Toumani Camara added 18 points.

Devin Booker, embarking on his 12th NBA season with the Suns, had 23 points.

Lillard spent his first 11 NBA seasons with the Blazers before playing two seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. He rejoined the Blazers in the summer of 2025, but spent last season rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon.

Lillard joins a Blazers team that snapped a five-year postseason drought last season. But Tiago Splitter, who took over as coach after Chauncey Billups' arrest in an alleged gambling scheme, left for the Chicago Bulls and the Blazers hired Micah Nori, an assistant with the Timberwolves.

The Blazers also traded away Jerami Grant and Kris Murray to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Morant.

The Blazers went ahead 21-0 behind 3-pointers from Lillard, Morant, Deni Avdija and Donovan Clingan. The Suns' first points came off free throws with 5:54 left in the first quarter.

Lillard made back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead to 38-8 and Portland had a 72-39 advantage at halftime. He finished with six 3s.

The Suns hit just 36% from the field for the game and were just 6 of 31 on 3-point attempts.

Nori pulled the Blazers' starters early in the final quarter.

Avdija was a game-time decision for the Blazers with a right ankle injury but started. Avdija, last season’s surprising breakout player with 24.2 points per game, had 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The Suns host the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

The Blazers visit the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a three-point basket next to Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Sidy Cissoko, front, and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker reach for a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, and guard Ja Morant celebrate after a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl in the first T20 cricket international against New Zealand at Hagley Oval on Thursday.

The India squad only arrived in New Zealand two days ago and has had little time to acclimatize before the first match in a long tour involving five T20s, five one-day internationals and two test matches.

“We have no complaints,” Iyer said. “We're a band of professionals and everyone knows that in the dressing room.”

India has made two changes to the team which faced the West Indies in the last of five T20 internationals a week ago. India won the first and third T20s of that series by eight wickets and 14 runs, but each time West Indies bounced back.

Mayank Yadav comes in for Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy replaces Shivam Dube.

New Zealand has chosen four seamers — Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson — and three spinners — Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh are likely to share the new ball for India.

The teams last met in the T20 World Cup final in India, which India won by 96 runs.

Lineups:

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Lockie Ferguson.

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Mitchell Santner, left, of the Black Caps and Shreyas Iyer of India lead their teams onto the field for the T20 cricket international between India and New Zealand in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (John Davidson/Photosport via AP)