"The Phoenix Suns are coming. The momentum is building. Keep it going." 🗣️ Head Coach Frank Vogel
The Phoenix Suns are finally healthy and clicking: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are ready
NBASunday, 21 January 2024 at 01:00
Despite struggling in the fourth quarter at the start of this NBA season, the Phoenix Suns are starting to look good. Yes, they are the team with the fewest points scored in the final quarter, but with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker healthy, that's starting to change. They scored 35 in their 119-117 win over Sacramento last Tuesday and things are looking brighter for this upcoming 2nd half of the season.
The explanation for this apparent contradiction lies in the fact that the Suns have played only nine of their 40 games with their three All-Stars - Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal - available.
Eight of them, if you discount the game in which Beal only played the first 4:32 before suffering an ankle injury on Dec. 15 against the New York Knicks.
The team has shown its true potential when Durant, Booker and Beal have been on court together. Over the last 11 games, with an 8-3 record (2-1 without Durant), and a solid 7-3 since Beal's return on December 29, they have posted an impressive 51.4% shooting percentage from the field.
The mission to claw back in the fourth period was on the Suns' minds as they overcame a 22-point deficit with 8:22 remaining in the win over the Kings.
Starting small forward Grayson Allen, who scored 29 points and tied a team-high with nine three-pointers, commented, "We won a fourth period finally." The accomplishment was part of a tactical adjustment by coach Frank Vogel, who moved Durant to guard Kings center Domantas Sabonis and put four three-point shooters on the court.
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Durant played the entire last quarter along with Booker, Beal, Allen and Eric Gordon in the final 5:11, where they outscored the Kings 23-4 and made five of their 17 three-pointers.
Durant bothered Sabonis, who usually orchestrates from the top, and the Kings' offense fell apart. This tactical adjustment and the new smaller lineup could be the key for the Suns, especially against smaller teams in this hit-or-miss league.
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