The Phoenix Suns (22-15) hosted the New York Knicks (24-13) on Friday at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The Knicks sat second in the Eastern Conference, while the Suns sat seventh in the Western Conference.
The Knicks, despite winning the NBA Cup earlier in the year, were struggling, having lost four in a row before snapping that losing streak in their most recent match against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It’s competition,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said regarding the team’s NBA Cup win. “When you have a tournament or something where there’s one team standing and you can say ‘I’m the best of the best because the NBA has the best basketball players’ if you’re a competitor, you’ll compete your behind off, because the other 29 teams in the league don’t have what you have.”
As for Phoenix, they were picking up a lot of steam, as they had won seven out of their last nine games, including a thrilling win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A lot was riding for both teams, as the Knicks were looking to keep the second seed from the Boston Celtics, while the Suns were looking to push closer to a playoff spot.
The Knicks were led by center Karl-Anthony Towns and point guard Jalen Brunson, who were both averaging at least 20+ points per game.
“He has the ability to space it at the five,” Suns head coach Jordan Ott said regarding Towns. “Puts a lot of pressure on the perimeter defense to guard the basketball. Obviously, Towns has the ability has the ability to go on the floor and get to the free-throw line.”
Towns led the team in rebounds with 11.4 rebounds per game.
Brunson was averaging 29.1 PPG, the eighth best in the NBA by any player.
“He’s seen it all,” Ott said regarding Brunson. “He has so many solutions, he’s so unique, and then they have a lot of shooting around him. We have to somehow contain him and make him inefficient as possible.”
The team also had solid depth, as Jordan Clarkson was averaging 10.1 PPG entering the match.
As for the Suns, they had their own two stars, with Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, who also both averaged 20+ PPG.
“They crash the glass,” Brown said regarding the Suns. “They do a pretty good job defensively, overall trying to put pressure on you. A lot of things that we’re going to have to try to make sure we maintain tonight because they can attack in a lot of different ways.”
The Suns had also found their groove in the second and first unit, with the likes of Collin Gillespie and Royce O’Neale really finding their groove.
The Knicks were without role player Josh Hart (ankle).
“I know he’s progressing every single day,” Brown said regarding Hart’s health. “He’s doing controlled scrimmaging right now, so we’ll see, but he’s definitely getting close.”
As for the Suns, they were without Jamaree Bouyea (concussion) and Jalen Green (hamstring).
“He continues to make progress,” Ott said regarding Green’s health. “Everything seems to be pretty good. It’s been a long haul, and he’s stayed with it. You’re going to feel some general sourness just by getting out there on the court, and that’s normal. That’s not specific to the injury. He’s got to keep going.”
Green had only played two games all season, but Ott stressed the importance of Green’s health.
“We want him healthy,” Ott said. “This is a young guy, obviously coming into a new situation, full of talent, full of youthful energy that we need. We need him, but we need him healthy. We’re excited to get him out there to see where he is with our group, but we want him healthy.”
Entering the second quarter, the Suns held a 28-23 lead.
Miles McBride of the Knicks got off to a hot start, putting up 10 points, while Brunson tailed him with seven points.
As for Towns, he delivered four rebounds and three assists.
Booker tallied five points, but Brooks paved the way, with 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Jordan Goodwin made an impact coming off the bench, and had five points and three rebounds.
Nearing the end of the second quarter, OG Anunoby drove in for a layup, but Grayson Allen got in the way, forcing a foul.
Anunoby shoved Allen in response and was quickly given a technical foul.
Entering the second half, the Suns led 62-60.
Brunson entered the half with 13 points, while McBride had been slowed down, only getting two points in the second quarter.
Clarkson also had 12 points for New York.
As for the Suns, it was a two man show, as Booker had 20 points, and Brooks had 17 points.
No one else for Phoenix hit double digit points.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Suns had an eight-point lead.
Brunson exploded into life, with 25 points entering the fourth.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Booker said regarding Brunson. “I’d say he’s one of the hardest to guard in the league. He’s just so shifty. Obviously, he can hit the three-ball, he scores on all three levels.”
Towns had 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Booker and Brooks continued being the engines for Phoenix, as both grabbed at least 23 points by the start of the fourth quarter.
Brooks led the team in rebounds with six, and Booker led the team in assists with six entering the fourth.
With five minutes left, the Suns held a six-point lead, and the Knicks were looking to cut into it.
“We always talk about just being in those competitive nights against really good teams,” Ott said. “That’s been good for our group and growth. Just being in it together, going through it.”
With three minutes left, up two, Oso Ighodaro was given a foul on Anunoby after the two bumped into each other.
Phoenix challenged the play, but it was unsuccessful, and Anunoby went to the stripe, where he’d sink both to tie up the game.
Ighodaro was fouled with 30.4 seconds remaining, and with a three-point lead, Phoenix was looking to make it a two-possession.
Ighodaro missed both, and the Knicks got the ball, but the ball was deflected during a pass.
The ball headed out of bounds, and Bridges went to shield the ball.
Right before it went out of bounds, Allen was able to throw the ball back onto Bridges on a hustle play.
Since the ball went off of Bridges, this gave the Suns possession.
The Knicks immediately challenged the call, as with 14.2 seconds left and no fouls to give; it could decide the game.
The call was not overturned, and the Suns retained possession.
“Game changer,” Ott said regarding the play. “That’s how it goes. Some nights it’s not your night, but the ability to move on, move to the next play, make winning plays, and after that make the free throws. Says a lot about who he is as a competitive person.”
Allen was soon fouled and sent to the line, where he sank both free throws.
New York drove down the court, and Bridges drained a three to make the score 108-106 in favor of Phoenix with 5 seconds left.
Phoenix inbounded the ball to Allen, where Allen sunk both free throws to give the Suns a four-point lead.
Anunoby shot for three with 2.2 seconds left but was fouled by O’Neale.
Anunoby missed two free throws, and all Phoenix had to do was sink one free throw to end the game.
Brooks was sent to the line with 0.8 seconds remaining, and sank both free throws, as Phoenix won 112-107.
“We need each other to win big,” Booker said. “I think hero ball might be able to get you through one or two games but once it comes down to the nitty gritty, once you get deeper in the season or in the playoffs, you’re going to need everybody.”
Brunson was shut down in the fourth, but still finished with 27 points, while Towns finished with a double-double, as he finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
As for the Suns, Brooks finished with 27 points and led the team in rebounding with seven rebounds.
Booker finished strong, leading the team in points and assists, he grabbed 31 points and eight assists.
“I always communicate,” Booker said. “I know I might come off as quiet and reserved, but it’s not that way in the huddle. I’ve had a lot of teammates understand that. I know there’s times to encourage and times to lead, so there’s different forms of leadership that I’ve learned.”
The Suns jump to 23-15 while the Knicks fall to 24-14.
The Suns face the Washington Wizards on Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center.
