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Suns face possible sweep despite best efforts vs OKC in Game 3

Courtesy: Suns

If I had a ton of notes about how poorly Phoenix played in the third game of this best-of-seven series, this story would be easier to write.

With Grayson Allen back for PHX and Perry alum Jalen Williams out for Oklahoma City, opportunity was there…and the Suns played like it.

“I would imagine that’s the highest quality shots we got all season,” Suns head coach Jordan Ott said. “Even our threes…pretty much all night were of higher quality against this team who eliminates that. Then we were able to get to the paint early. Offensively, we were pretty good at times, probably our best of the three games.”

“Phoenix, with the home crowd, came in ready,” Thunder head coach Mike Daigneault said. “They were fast to start the game. Both in transition and they moved the ball quickly. They’re improving as the series goes in terms of the way they’re attacking us, so there’s stuff we need to look at.”

Even still – Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder showed why they’re the defending champions and favorites to do it again.

“The player I am, the coverages I’m gonna see – they’re gonna be designed to make me play in a crowd and make me pass the ball,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I try to be aggressive in those moments and let the game tell me what to do.”

“We’ve seen pretty much all the circumstances and situations that we can see,” OKC All-Star center Chet Holmgren said. “When the other team adjusts, you have to adjust with them and I feel like we did a good job of that tonight…continuing to get our stuff in the game while taking away what they’re comfortable with.”

“[Shai’s] efficient,” Dillon Brooks said. “I got him Game 4.”

While the Suns’ fight we’re used to seeing was apparent, there were aspects of the game that certainly weren’t contributing positively against a team like the Thunder.

Phoenix lost the battle in the paint 50-30 and the bench comparison 36-12.

 

They also weren’t as efficient as the Thunder and while Phoenix’s defense put up a fair fight, OKC’s defensive qualities are amongst all-time great teams (six blocks, six steals in Game 3), making any opponent’s day at the office a living nightmare.

“Can’t let them find a rhythm, can’t let them be comfortable,” Holmgren said. “[Booker’s] gonna make shots, great shot makers do that, but you have to make them work for every single shot.”

While all that is true, the Suns still had a solid all-around performance, despite what the final score of 121-109 might indicate.

The first quarter summary is essentially the “so you’re playing OKC in the Playoffs?” experience:

Suns were physical, moved the ball well, limited fouls, shot 48% from the field, had just one turnover, more fast break points, led by as much as nine…and still trailed by five going into the second quarter.

Phoenix finished with 25 team assists, shot 44% from the field as a team, made more three-pointers, tied in fast break points, and stayed within striking distance all game long.

11 team turnovers isn’t bad either…until you realize the Thunder only had seven.

“They’re the champs for a reason.” star Devin Booker said. “They know what they want to get every time down court and they definitely know what they are going on the defensive end. We have some growing to do and some learning to do in those departments.”

The officiating was better in Game 3 as well. We saw calls reversed and while Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder still put a ton of pressure on the refs to make a call, it wasn’t nearly as egregious as the first couple games.

Booker on the statement regarding his $35,000 fine: “I read it as, ‘You were right, you just can’t say anything about it.”

 

When it comes down to it, sometimes, you have to tip your cap to the better team.

Last chance for the Suns to extend this 3-0 first round series comes on Monday at home at 6:30 PM.

More Sights & Sounds from Game 3:

 

 

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