3 Blazers vs. Suns bold predictions for 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament

The NBA play-in tournament is set, and the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns will meet in the Valley of the Sun on Tuesday. This is the first time that Phoenix has been in the play-in tournament and will be fully healthy.

For Portland, they’ve had a Top 5 defense throughout the last month. Even with the Blazers’ instability at the beginning of the year, they’ve rallied and have proven to be a gritty, youthful, yet experienced team.

Here are three predictions for Tuesday’s game that might surprise people.

Prediction #1: Jrue Holiday gives 2021 NBA Finals flashbacks

When Jrue Holiday was traded to the Blazers, he was meant to be the veteran on a young team. He was a main reason both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics won their respective championships in 2021 and 2024.

This isn’t saying that Portland can win, but they have someone who has legitimate experience. Not to mention, Holiday was a major thorn in Devin Booker’s side during Milwaukee’s run.

Granted, it’s been five seasons since that matchup happened in a playoff atmosphere. Holiday’s defensive play style is ideal for the playoffs. He’s extremely physical, great at denying the ball, and makes you work for every single point.

It’s not saying that Booker can’t get his, but he’ll have to work for it. Also, he can switch off to Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, and make them earn every bucket.

With the defensive prowess he has, it underrates his offensive ability. Holiday is a more than respectable shooter and someone who can create off the pick and roll, especially with big man Donovan Clingan.

The array of young, talented players with someone as savvy as Holiday can be all that Portland needs to steal a game.

Prediction #2: Jalen Green will have a career-high in points

The biggest knock on Jalen Green was that he disappeared in most of the series against the Golden State Warriors last year during the first round.

He had a breakout game but didn’t replicate it. Much of it had to do with mentality and preparation, which Green said Booker instilled in him during the Suns’ road trip in March.

He’s shown flashes throughout his career of how dynamic a scorer he is. Pairing him next to Booker has been a major positive and created a yin and yang effect in terms of playstyles.

Also, Green is only 24 years old and had his first taste of the playoffs last season. Being the primary perimeter offensive option is a tough task against a team that has been through the fire and understands how to shut down someone like him.

Instead of worrying about strictly keeping the offense afloat, he can stick to scoring. The athleticism will be a good match for Portland’s bigs, which brings us to our next point.

Prediction #3: Donovan Clingan will have a 20-20 game vs Suns

One area the Suns have lacked in has been the rebounding. Although they ranked 20th in rebounding, that metric is well below the Blazers, who are sixth in that category.

Of total rebounds, the latter is second in offensive rebounds per game, and center Clingan is tied for second in that respective area.

In every matchup between the two teams, Phoenix wasn’t healthy. The centers were healthy, but Clingan is simply too big a brute to be denied. During the season series, he averaged 15.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks.

The former UConn big man has never posted a 20-20, but has posted 20+ points in ten games, and has had 20+ rebounds only three times.

He hasn’t met that playing Phoenix, but his sheer physicality and size open up everything else. Also, this will be Clingan’s first taste of Play-In basketball in the NBA.

Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, and Khaman Maluach will make the Portland big earn those rebounds, but sometimes, you can’t teach size.

And that is why it’s more than possible for Clingan to make history for himself at the Suns’ expense.

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