PHOENIX, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe debuted a new-look Phoenix backcourt with successful results Wednesday, sending the Suns to a 104-91 win over Portland.
Bledsoe joined Dragic in the Phoenix starting lineup after being obtained a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers during the offseason and they combined to score 48 points to go with 16 rebounds and 15 assists.
Dragic had 26 points and helped boost the Suns to a 12-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. P.J. Tucker and Miles Plumlee, who played in 14 games with Indiana last season after spending his college career at Duke, both had 18 points. Plumlee also had 14 rebounds.
Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge teamed for well over half of the Portland points. Lillard scored 32 and Aldridge had 28.
Portland is trying to bounce back from a disappointing season in which it lost its final 15 games. The 25 wins for Phoenix a year ago were the fewest in the Western Conference.
