After trimming the Boston Celtics’ lead to as small as three points late in the game, Phoenix was unable to capture what would have been a huge victory Friday night, losing by a score of 117-107.
In the end, Phoenix’s supporting group provided more timely contributions than Boston’s, since the Suns mostly depended on their marquee players, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
The Suns’ ability to upset the top NBA team while losing superstar Devin Booker and getting subpar performances from important role players is the team’s most encouraging development from the defeat.
In terms of offensive production, it was Royce O’Neale’s poorest game as a Sun. The 16 three-pointers that Grayson Allen had made in the two games prior to this defeat could not be duplicated. After just eleven minutes of play, Drew Eubanks had a team-worst -18.
The good news is that Allen has been a model of consistency throughout the season, despite the fact that role players frequently exhibit volatility. Despite having a difficult shooting night, O’Neale was helpful on the floor, and Eric Gordon will undoubtedly put up strong final-quarter performances.
When you include in Booker’s impending comeback, which might happen as soon as Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Suns’ top eight can compete with almost any other team in the league. The team’s defense, which was once thought to be its biggest vulnerability, is now somewhat of a strength. There are some outstanding shot producers and starters in the offense. The coaching staff also seems to be in agreement these days.
After suffering two consecutive defeats to the Houston Rockets in a week, perhaps Phoenix isn’t as far away as was initially believed last week.
This Suns team still has the chance to shock the basketball world and win a championship for Phoenix, even after the loss.
Leave a Reply