Recap: Suns explode in the third quarter, blow out hapless Trail Blazers for third straight win

Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty ImagesThe Suns blew out Portland on Monday night at home as Devin Booker out-dueled Damian Lillard and Phoenix’s defense clamped down to hand the Suns a third straight win, 132-100.

To start things out, Portland made the peculiar decision to have Lillard defend Booker, and it definitely was reminiscent of when Brad Stevens put Carsen Edwards out there to get chewed up. Booker started out 4-5 from the field for eight points.

Defensively against Lillard, the Suns deployed Mikal Bridges, who did a good job early making life hard on the MVP candidate. The Suns also blitzed Lillard on the perimeter, using the foot speed of Deandre Ayton to get the ball out…