Game Preview: Suns Face Deandre Ayton, Blazers

The Phoenix Suns welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the Valley tonight.

The Phoenix Suns will be playing game four of a five-game preseason slate tonight at Footprint Center against the Portland Trail Blazers. This will be the second time the two teams have faced off in less than a week, with Phoenix coming out on top in their first meeting behind strong showings from Devin Booker, Jusuf Nurkic, and Eric Gordon. 

If tonight is a retread of last Thursday, it should be a great night for Suns fans. 

Here's what to watch for tonight:

Beal Makes Home Debut

Bradley Beal is set to make his home debut in a Phoenix Suns jersey.  / Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Bradley Beal will play his second game of the preseason tonight, along with officially making his home debut. The first year Suns guard sat out last Tuesday to rest and was a late scratch in Portland due to lower back tightness. 

The former All-NBA guard was a full participant in practice this weekend, and it set to play alongside the other members of the big three. 

Ayton Makes Return to Phoenix

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton knows the Valley all too well. 

Deandre Ayton will, barring being scratched from the lineup, make his official return to Phoenix for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Portland was made. The former Hillcrest Prep and University of Arizona star has spent much of the last decade in the Valley. 

The well-documented issues in Phoenix between Ayton and his teammates/front office made the exit quite uncomfortable, however. Many Suns fans have also been upset how the talented big man carried himself in high-leverage situations. It should be interesting to see what the reception is from a presumably sold-out crowd tonight.

Who Will Be Fifth Starter?

Josh Okogie has been slotted as the team's fifth starter during preseason play - will that trend continue?

Phoenix started Josh Okogie in the first two preseason games with largely positive results, but started Eric Gordon in the Georgia Tech products' place on Thursday night. Gordon responded with a 20-point performance on an absurd 8-for-10 shooting night. 

Gordon impressed as a scorer from all three levels, was a great secondary ball handler, and played some inspired defense on select occasions. This may not end up being a controversy after all, but Suns fans should pay close attention to the starting lineup release shortly before tip off tonight.

The real positive is that there's likely as many as four players that have enough talent and fit well enough with the rest of the starters to the point they can be considered for the role.