The Phoenix Suns have been alternating hot and cold since the middle of last month. Following up two wins with two losses and two more wins with another two losses.
Sunday night’s 118-110 loss at the Footprint Center to the Western Conference leading Oklahoma City Thunder drops the team to 35-26, in seventh place, 7.5 games back of the aforementioned Thunder.
Trailing by as many as 24, the Suns were able to rally behind a 31-5 run in the third period to briefly take the lead 91-89. But they were unable to hold down Oklahoma’s MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who led the game with 35 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
The game was already going to be difficult for the Suns who were without Devin Booker (sprained ankle) who was hurt in Saturday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets.
Bradley Beal, in his second game back, was able to ramp up his production, scoring 31 points with six assists on 10-of-14 shooting.
Phoenix was the aggressor early, taking a 17-4 advantage, with all five starters getting touches.
Head coach Frank Vogel had emphasized pregame that this would be important Sunday night without Booker.
Eventually, they seemed to go away from attacking the rim and started settling for outside jump shots, which is when the game flipped for Oklahoma City.
OKC went on a 24-7 run to close out the first quarter, and another 20-4 run before the break.
The boo-birds came out for Phoenix, who trailing 66-52 heading into halftime.
Jusuf Nurkic’s fingerprints were all over Sunday’s game, grabbing a Suns franchise-record 31 rebounds. The previous record of 27 was held by Tyson Chandler (2016) and Paul Silas (1971).
Nurkic’s 31 rebound effort is the most recorded in an NBA game since Kevin Love in 2010.
“They told me when I had 28. I think I saw it on the screen. It does not really matter. I mean… it is great, but we lost the game. Another turnover issue, we had 22—so I think we all agree that this has got to change. It really has to be the number one thing in our minds,” Nurkic said after the loss.
Turnovers did indeed haunt Phoenix. The Thunder turned their 22 takeaways into 11 shots, generating an additional 31 points.
Durant (6-of-15) had a quiet 20-point night in 36 minutes.
He did not register a score in the final frame (0-of-4).
“I’m trying to figure out ways to get going. It’s hard to get going in my spots when as soon as I dribble the ball somebody is coming to double team me,” said Durant postgame about how the Thunder defended him.
Former Perry High School standout, Jalen Williams, went for 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting and rookie big-man Chet Holmgren added 14 points and nine boards.
The Suns are now 2-4 since the All-Star Break and the stretch of games coming up this week will not get any easier, with marquee matchups against the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics looming.
