Paul Coro

PNI

PORTLAND, Ore. – Whether the Suns make the playoffs or not, the stretch run has been good for Eric Bledsoe and the team.

Had Bledsoe not returned from knee surgery until next season, he would have spent the off-season wondering how he would be and the team would have never known what the whole package could look like for a long period of time.

By Bledsoe returning to action on March 12, he likely will play the season's final 19 games. He has not experienced any setbacks or discomfort with his right knee and even has mentioned a future Suns team for the first time.

"It's been great, not only for me but for the whole team, especially confidence-wise coming into next season," said Bledsoe, who will be a restricted free agent in July. "We've just got to take it to another level. Everybody expected us to win 17 games. For us to come out and be in the playoff race has been an exciting season."

Entering Friday night, the Suns had a record of 24-12 this season in games that Bledsoe played.

"It's a good barometer for our team to see fully healthy how we do against these teams in do-or-die situations that we're in right now," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said of Bledsoe's return. "Not just for Eric but for all of our guys. It'll give us a better idea moving forward. Being out for so many games, I'm sure he was itching to get back and we were itching to get him back and we'll see how we can play to finish the year."

Bledsoe's right wrist has been more of an issue than his knee. He fell on it in a March 28 game and aggravated it the next game but not enough to keep from playing after watching his team hang on for 10 weeks without him.

"It's a team without any superstars," Bledsoe said. "We put away our egos and put our talents together and worked for one goal. That's to win games and try to make the playoffs. It built friendships and team chemistry for the guys who are coming back next year. Everybody's looking forward to it."

Does that include him?

"We'll see," Bledsoe said.

Reunited

Before Friday night's game, Suns guard Goran Dragic joked to his former Suns locker-room neighbor, Portland center Robin Lopez, that he was hoping Lopez was about to have a terrible game.

But if Dragic was to miss out on the Most Improved Player award, there is nobody he would rather see it win it than Lopez.

"That award means a lot for every player," Dragic said. "That means all the hard work has paid off."

The former Suns No. 15 pick endured injuries and a role that fluctuated as much as his results in Phoenix but is having a career season in his first year with Portland. He was averaging 10.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks entering Friday night.

"He's dominating the paint," Dragic said. "He is averaging almost five offensive rebounds in the last 10 games. It's a perfect fit for him and I'm happy for him.

"Every athletes goes through those bumps. He had the true character that he is strong enough to come back and he did. I always thought he could be one of the best big guys in the league."

Free throws

Hornacek on his first year as a head coach: "Things come at you fast. There's game after game and you're constantly watching tape. I have great assistants who get things prepared. For a while there, I was living in Utah and doing the coaching and my wife was in Phoenix. Now that I'm in Phoenix, she says, 'I think I see you even less now.' We go eat dinner and then I go back and watch tape again. I'm at the house but I'm kind of off on my own. It's been a lot of work but it's been great fun to have a good group of guys who just lay it out there every day. I don't know what it would be like to have a team of guys who were dogging it."

— Hornacek said the Trail Blazers are a similar team that has improved defensively this season but "they're probably a little ahead of us with their team in terms of their veterans can keep it settled a little more."

Up next

Thunder at Suns

When: Sunday, April 6 at 6 p.m.

TV: FSAZ, NBA TV | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 9 at 5 p.m.

Suns at Hornets

TV: FSAZ | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM

Friday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Suns at Spurs

TV: FSAZ | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM

Saturday, April 12 at 5:30 p.m.

Suns at Mavericks

TV: FSAZ | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM

Monday, April 14 at 7 p.m.

Grizzlies at Suns

TV: FSAZ | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM

Wednesday, April 16 7:30 p.m.

Suns at Kings

TV: FSAZ | Radio: 98.7 FM, KSUN 1400AM