Portland Trail Blazers kick off NBA season with dominant home victory as Moda Center deadline looms

The Portland Trail Blazers kicked off their new NBA season Wednesday night at the Moda Center with a resounding 41-point victory over the Phoenix Suns. It marked the return of 9-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard to the Blazers and his first regular season game since an Achilles injury he suffered in April 2025 while playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. Lillard scored 25 points, including six 3-pointers, in just 24 minutes on the court. Ja Morant, whom the Blazers acquired during the summer from the Memphis Grizzlies, added 14 points and eight assists. Micah Nori, the team’s new head coach, will also be under pressure to deliver results this season. 

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on a December deadline for Portland city officials and the Blazers’ management - led by owner Tom Dundon – to negotiate a new lease agreement for the Moda Center. At stake is roughly $600 million in public funds state and local leaders have committed to paying to renovate the aging arena, provided certain conditions are met. 

KOIN 6 sports anchor and reporter Brenna Greene joins us to break this all down for us.

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