It was a statement game on Thursday night as two teams met for the first time this season. In the final act of a four-game slate, the Phoenix Suns secured a comeback win (final score: 125-119) on the road over James Harden, Norman Powell, and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Starting with the Clippers, who came in at 2-2, they are still without Kawhi Leonard who has yet to make his season debut. But thanks to big performances from James Harden (25 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds on 8-19 shooting) and Norman Powell (20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) the Clippers were able to take a big lead into halftime with full control of the game. It was hot shooting that initially opened up a 17-point lead in the first quarter, but the score did not hold up in the second half.
On the other side, it was an impressive comeback for the Suns. Even with no Bradley Beal in the game, they managed to earn an important comeback win thanks to Booker (40 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds) and Durant (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) who combined for nearly 60 points. Rookie Ryan Dunn has the game of his career with 16 points and 4 rebounds 6-12 shooting from the field.
For two teams with title aspirations, they experienced wildly different things tonight and for the Suns, it was evidence that they could be a truly formidable squad when things are clicking at the right time.
Prime Devin Booker Was Unstoppable Once Again
No matter how you feel about the Suns, they have a chance in the West based on Devin Booker’s presence alone. As one of the best young guards in the league, Booker elevates the Suns to a special status in the league and Kevin Durant’s arrival has only further moved them up the NBA hierarchy.
In the amazing comeback win tonight, Booker once again showed his MVP potential with 40 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals on 61.1% shooting. He made five three-pointers and led a run in the third quarter that put the Suns back in the game.
Even down by double digits, the Suns’ shooting and star power mean that a game is almost never out of reach and we saw it play out in real-time tonight as Booker powered the comeback win. Of course, this type of play has been the norm for Book this season with averages of 23.0 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game on 44.6% shooting.
Three-Point Barrage Overwhelmed The Competition
The Suns made a season-high 18 three-pointers against the Los Angeles Clippers with three different players hitting from the outside. The starters went 13-26 from three and the Suns shot 46.2% as a team. With a season-high final score of 125 points, it was the Suns’ best offensive performance of the season and a positive sign of their standing in the West.
After team owner Mat Ishbia sacrificed so much to build this roster of shooters and shot creators, this is the type of game that he expected to see regularly from the Suns and it appears that his team may finally be ready to deliver on those expectations.
At 4-1, the Suns are currently ranked second in the West and they rank seventh in 3-pointers made so far this season. With Bradley Beal set to return to the lineup this month, the Suns can get even better and start to build some separation between themselves and the rest of the West.
No More Problems In The Clutch
In the past, late-game execution had been a problem for the Suns with their new big three. Last year, they struggled to win close games and it likely cost them a chance at a higher playoff seed. Through the five games this season, the Suns have shown great improvements in that aspect of the game and it’s clearly made a massive difference.
Tonight, even down by 21 going into the second half, the Suns remained poised the entire time and maintained an even and balanced effort to close the game and secure the win. With playmaking and collaboration, the Suns were able to find great shots down the stretch and take advantage of a weakened Clippers squad missing their best two-way player.
It’s hard not to think that new coach Mike Budenholzer, who replaced Frank Vogel this summer, is the biggest reason for this shift in clutch performance.
So far this season, the Suns are undefeated in late-game scenarios situations, with tonight’s victory marking the third. The last time the Suns were first in the category was the 2021-22 season when they also finished first in the Western Conference.
Coming into this season, there were many doubts and questions about the Suns relating to their health, depth, and their overall chances to come out of the West. Slowly but surely, they aim to address those concerns and prove why they can compete for the championship this season.
At 4-1, the Suns are certainly off to a great start so far but it’s a long season, and anything can happen. At the very least, with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, this Suns team should remain in the top six and don’t be surprised if they’re sitting at No. 1 in the West before it’s all said and done.
