ORLANDO — The Phoenix Suns failed to shut out one other recreation with a victory with out Kevin Durant.
The Suns completed their three-game highway journey with out a win, shedding 115-110 on Sunday to the Magic of Orlando in entrance of a crowd of 18,311 on the Kia Middle. They’re now 1-9 with out Durant, who’s in Phoenix recovering from a sprained left ankle suffered in final week’s win towards San Antonio.
The Suns (12-11) dedicated seven turnovers within the fourth to finish a 21-turnover evening that led to 23 factors in Orlando (17-9). Bradley Beal turned the ball over 5 instances earlier than fouling whereas Devin Booker and Grayson Allen every dedicated three.
Allen left the sport with 3:52 left within the fourth quarter as a result of a proper ankle harm and didn’t return.
The Magic have been victorious regardless of the absence of Paolo Banchero and now Franz Wagner, who suffered the identical indirect tear Friday towards Philadelphia that sidelined his All-Star teammate for greater than a month.
Jalen Suggs scored 14 of his 26 factors within the fourth quarter to steer the Magic (16-10) whereas middle Goga Bitadze with a double-double of 21 and 16 as an offensive rebound for the ultimate factors. of the sport with 13.2 seconds left. Cole Anthony added 14 off the bench.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 25 factors and 7 assists whereas Tyus Jones added 21, going 5 of 8 from 3.
Listed here are three takeaways because the Suns hope to have Durant again for Friday’s recreation towards Utah, as they’ve 4 days between Sunday’s recreation and this recreation.
Dimension, exercise and physique torment the Suns
The Suns are a reliable crew that shares the ball, tries to play the correct means and appears to be disciplined of their recreation plan and talk on protection.
That is profitable in basketball, however there are different methods to win a recreation.
The Magic is younger and aggressive, has nice dimension even with out his tremendous 6-10 in Banchero and Wagner and imposes his physique.
As Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned earlier than the sport, they’re going to proceed to defend the identical means no matter who is obtainable or not.
The Magic elevated their defensive stress within the fourth with blitzes, stress and utterly upset the Suns. They then made some well timed photographs, with Suggs being held up all through the sport.
That is why groups with dimension, youth, physicality and power pose issues for Phoenix. They power the Suns to play a extra frenetic type, which they will do, nevertheless it forces them to play beneath duress.
They did not deal with that on Sunday and had their share of difficulties doing so when groups elevated the stress. For a crew that had 4 guards on the court docket, you’d assume they’d cut up that up, however the Suns did not reply to the stress.
Groups will proceed to play this type even when Durant returns. Suggs had no downside fouling Booker in transition within the fourth.
Booker fell onerous, stayed on the bottom for a minute whereas Suggs seemed for what the issue was. Suggs performs bodily, onerous and with exercise. That’s how the Magic do it. The Suns have to match that, or they will proceed to get a gentle dose of all of those.
The Suns additionally do not do a adequate job of persistently boxing out.
A part of that’s having 4 guards readily available once in a while, however a part of it isn’t discovering a person to face away from the boards. Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro struggled with this Sunday.
He seemed on the ball as a substitute of discovering the massive one to take after which chasing the rebound. Bitadze devoured the Suns with 9 offensive rebounds.
Jusuf Nurkic can resolve that downside to some extent when he returns from a thigh bruise, however the Suns have to rebound extra as a gaggle realizing they’ve the offensive expertise to get a very good shot on the opposite finish .
Bear in mind, the Suns are a reliable crew that depends on execution. The extra they do that at a excessive degree, the much less groups can power them to play bodily.
Shut losses these days
The Suns have been as soon as 7-0 in video games determined by six factors or fewer whereas beginning the season 8-1 beneath Durant.
Then they misplaced a three-point recreation to Minnesota with out Durant and Bradley Beal as Julius Randle hit a 3 on the buzzer. Since then, two of Phoenix’s final three losses have been by 5 factors or much less.
Certain, no Durant in both, however the Suns should not have misplaced to the then four-win Pelicans. The identical may be mentioned for Sunday’s loss, however the Magic are one of the resilient groups within the league regardless of being so younger.
The franchise, loyal to Mosley, has established a defensive identification with thrilling younger expertise led by Banchero and Wagner. They’ve dimension, play with physicality and look to win with a protection that fuels their offense.
Booker mentioned the execution of the highway journey was going to be vital, particularly with Durant being the first nearer. The Suns failed to take action by going 0-3 with a lot of it beneath their management.
Giving up further possessions. Don’t power consecutive stops. Turnovers. Permit referees to have an effect on the way in which they play. Quit 3 seconds on a single display screen.
It is as a lot on Phoenix as it’s on the opponent, if no more.
Once more, they really want Durant again. The Suns lacked Ryan Dunn’s protection and power, however they’d sufficient expertise to tug off at the very least one win on a highway journey towards one of many NBA’s worst groups in New Orleans, a crew principally .500 in Miami who they beat at residence and a Magic crew. with out their two finest gamers.
An aggressive Jones
He’s the fourth or fifth choice with a wholesome beginning lineup. His primary job is to set the desk and defend the ball, however when Jones is aggressive in scoring, it could result in what follows.
Booker and Beal do not feel like they’ve to attain they usually can each make performs on the ball. Each star guards can look to attain on the transfer as a substitute of the pick-and-roll or isolation when the protection can load up.
Moreover, Jones is the crew’s finest ball handler, not turning the ball over. Sure, Booker and Beal are licensed buckets, however the Suns appear to be on offense when Jones initiates it.
Jones can stretch the protection together with his capturing. When his floater recreation goes with it, Jones is a tricky cowl.
The issue turns into when groups begin attacking him defensively, coach Mike Budenholzer has proven an inclination to remove him.
Typically you need to keep on with a man who can facilitate the offense, hitting 3s although he could be a legal responsibility on protection. Moreover, he may also compete on that facet and is a stable off-ball defender.
Jones is an X-factor for the Suns. The Suns wanted his scoring early, however he might have been extra aggressive within the fourth. Took solely two photographs within the fourth. He received extra makes an attempt for his recreation by way of three quarters.
Do you have got any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Comply with him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially revealed on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns might be examined and fall late to Magic to 0-3 on journey
