Hill's injury ended the suspense in the series between the Suns and the Trail Blazers.
Although the Suns still have Antoine Walker, Anfernee Hardaway, and there's still some gas in Kevin Johnson's tank.
But Grant Hill's efficient 25 points per game is a gap hard to fill, and they, already at a disadvantage, couldn't compete with the Trail Blazers.
In the second game in Portland, Anfernee Hardaway scored a triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, but still lost in a shootout 104-110 to the high-powered Portland Trail Blazers.
Gan Guoyang and Kobe combined for 75 points in the game, accounting for more than two-thirds of the team's points.
The Suns could previously contend with the Trail Blazers due to multiple scoring threats and exceptional talent, without any advantage in system or tactics.
Losing Hill meant losing significant firepower and talent, and no matter how much Hardaway and Johnson gave their all, it was to no avail.
