It was a long night in Phoenix as the Suns and Magic battled it out in a double-overtime thriller. With both teams still firmly in the playoff picture for their respective conferences, we knew this was going to be a competitive matchup, and that played right into the Suns’ hands, who pulled away down the stretch to secure a 113-110 win.
The win came without several rotation players, including Cole Anthony (not with team), Devin Booker (right hip; strain), and Haywood Highsmith (right knee; injury). They also lost Dillon Brooks to a broken hand just seven minutes into the game. In an unlikely twist, Grayson Allen emerged as the hero tonight with 27 points off the bench to go along with seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block on 36.4% shooting (4-14 from three). Collin Gillespie also had a standout performance with 19 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal, and zero blocks on 35.3% shooting and 30.0% shooting from three.
Meanwhile, for the Magic, Desmond Bane went off with 34 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block on 66.7% shooting and 55.6% shooting from three. Meanwhile, Paolo Banchero dropped 26 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists, zero steals, and four blocks on 39.3% shooting (0-2 from three).
In the end, this game didn’t have massive implications on the NBA standings, but it gave us some key information on two teams that are looking to step up their play for the final playoff push. Tonight, several determining factors stood out that could become more important as the season’s final stretch plays out.
Grayson Allen Pulls A+ Booker Impression
Coming out of the All-Star break, the Suns have been hit hard with injuries to Devin Booker and, now, Dillon Brooks. It was hard to imagine how they’d make up for the loss of those two key veterans, but Grayson Allen provided the answer with arguably his best game of the season. In Booker-esque fashion, he finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block on 36.4% shooting and 28.6% shooting from three.
While it’s hardly efficient numbers for Allen, his confidence on the floor helped open up the offense for everyone. Best of all, he earned a game-high seven free throws tonight (7-7), a testament to his consistent aggression and focus throughout the game. Off the bench, Grayson isn’t usually a go-to scorer for the Suns, but he was feeling it tonight, and the Suns took advantage by giving him more looks and freedom to run the floor.
Offensive Rebounding Is The Secret Weapon
Unlike previous games, the Suns didn’t win this one with flash or an abundance of scoring. Rather, it was patience and focus on the glass that made the difference and widened the margin for error. While you might not think of the Suns as a good rebounding team, they showed up on the glass tonight, thanks to the efforts of Royce O’Neal, Mark Williams, and Oso Ighodaro off the bench.
In total, the Suns outrebounded the Magic 65-53, including 22 offensive rebounds. That gave Phoenix 19 extra shot attempts, which they clearly needed to keep up with their opponent. What’s curious is that this wasn’t a normal rebounding night for the Suns, who rank 20th in the league with an average of 43.1 rebounds per game. Tonight’s game may have been the exception, but it’s proof that they can be better when everyone’s locked in and focused on the action.
Depth Shines For Phoenix
When injuries start piling on, that’s usually when teams start to throw in the towel. At this stage of the season, with less than 40 games to go, the Suns remain significant underdogs to win the title. Still, wins like this prove that their success this season is no fluke. Even without major contributors, the Suns were able to secure victory due to the “other guys” stepping up and outperforming their roles. They looked naturally comfortable out there, as if they’d been preparing for this moment all season long.
Besides Grayson Allen, the Suns got solid production from unexpected sources, including 17 points from Jordan Goodwin, a double-double from Oso Ighodaro, and elite playmaking from Collin Gillespie. It was a bitter fight to the end, but the Suns maintained a consistent effort all night, thanks to balanced contributions from a supporting cast that’s becoming increasingly underrated.
Miscommunication Led To Costly Magic Turnovers
The Magic have been underwhelming all season, so maybe this loss isn’t as surprising as you might think. Other than the obvious issues, it seems to be a general communication problem that’s throwing Orlando off. While Anthony Black is showing positive signs, he’s the kind of point guard who can properly run an offense. That fact was made clear today as the Magic shot 42.9% from the field with 16 turnovers.
Risky passes, careless play, and communication breakdowns were common, suggesting that the Magic are struggling to find and build up their chemistry this season. Whatever is happening behind the scenes, it’s clear that the Magic need help on offense (particularly in the backcourt) before they can become a truly dominant team. Desmond Bane is doing everything he can, but it’s clearly not enough to keep this Magic team afloat.
