THE Phoenix Suns have lofty aspirations and a desire to be compared to the best teams in the league.
It didn’t go well when the Suns stopped in Boston during Phoenix’s current four-game road trip.
Phoenix (38-28) has a chance to bounce back in the second straight game against the Charlotte Frelons (17-49) Friday evening.
The Suns fell for the second time in three games with a 127-112 loss to the NBA’s top-ranked Celtics on Thursday night. Devin Booker had 23 points for Phoenix, which saw four of its players score at least 20 points.
“We’re just not there yet,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “And that’s the key word – for now.”
The Hornets are coming off a 110-98 victory Wednesday night in Memphis, their second win in the last nine games.
Charlotte survived 20 Memphis turnovers. But for the Hornets, the bigger topic was the production of rookie guard Vasilije Micic. He had career highs in points (25) and 3-pointers (5).
“I try to play the best I can. That’s me. I always try to be better,” Micic said. “Our style suits me well. We play with a lot of movement, a lot of passing. I try to fit in well because we have a lot of talented players who can score. The key is always to find the best player in the group. best position.”
The Suns could not maintain their offensive efficiency in the game against Boston. Kevin Durant had 20 points but shot 9 of 19 from the field.
“He had a really good look in the third quarter that didn’t fall,” Vogel said. “That’s the nature of the game.”
Phoenix dominated the visiting Hornets 133-119 on December 29, with Booker recording 35 points. He made five 3-pointers that night.
Terry Rozier had 42 points for Charlotte in that game, but he has since been traded. The Suns will want to do a better job on perimeter defense in Friday’s rematch after the Hornets compiled 23 shots on 3-point attempts in the December meeting.
Phoenix also had long-term success, with Eric Gordon posting seven 3s.
But on Thursday night in Boston, the Suns gave up a barrage of 3-pointers, with the Celtics shooting 25-for-50 from deep. The 3 accounted for more than half of Boston’s 47 field goals.
“They’re the best in the league,” Vogel said. “You can talk about all the ways you can try to limit it.”
Booker may have twisted his ankle late in the match Thursday, but Vogel said he didn’t think it was a serious illness.
The Hornets could benefit from continuity after a series of injuries changed the complexion of the roster, although Miles Bridges has provided steady production. However, the goal is to find the best combinations.
“You want to give your best on the field,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said.
–Field level media
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