PHOENIX — The NBA season is officially kicking into gear – and the Phoenix Suns took advantage of a fast start to the season, competing in a very tough series of games to start the year with a 4-1 mark.

Tonight, the Suns welcome the 2-4 Portland Trail Blazers to Footprint Center in what could be a test of how Phoenix fares heading into an eventful November.

Three things to watch in tonight’s match:

Starting guard Bradley Beal announced his intention to play in tonight’s game during practice this afternoon after missing Thursday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers with an elbow injury.

Beal started this season with a similar statistical profile to last year but looked significantly better from an eye test standpoint despite dealing with some right arm ailments.

Beal will continue to contribute to winning basketball and silence the doubters in what could be a special season for the Suns. Portland is the perfect opportunity for a classic 30-point showing for the former scoring champion.

Rookie phenom Ryan Dunn is off to a bright start to his NBA career; He even garnered rookie of the year buzz after being selected 29th overall in June.

Dunn has shot 44% from three-point range this season while being the main defender of every opponent’s offensive engine while fitting seamlessly into the starting lineup in two starts.

This raises a very valid question: Will Dunn get significant playing time with Beal’s return? Especially considering the impact Royce O’Neale has had so far.

It’s still quite possible that coach Mike Budenholzer will find creative ways to incorporate the young winger into various rotations; especially against an opponent who could create discord.

The second-year Suns shooter has had a fairly lukewarm start to the season – shooting just 23.1% in three-to-three contests so far.

The newfound sixth man role certainly suited the Duke product — and so did his newfound frame.

However, it must be assumed that his shooting will soon be rediscovered and that this slow start is just a momentary affair.

This game is probably more about working on personal questions and clearing up common mistakes/common errors rather than the opponent; It feels right for Allen to show who he was last season for the first time tonight in 2024-25.

The tip is set for shortly after 7pm local time tonight.