After a match that started full of energy and desire, our Suns gradually succumbed to the Kings’ offensives and a fire-setting Zach LaVine, forcing Ott and his team to retreat to the locker room with a 17-point
deficit.
One might have thought the game was already over, but Phoenix reacted superbly to close the gap in the third, outscoring the Kings 36-21. Let’s go over the six beams that supported the third quarter success!
Oso initiates, Oso concludes
After a quarter that begins with a missed shot by Brooks following a poor offensive possession and a three-pointer by Allen in transition, Oso has the opportunity to be the Suns’ main force on the half-court at the start of the second half.
Ighodaro brings the ball up, positions himself on the perimeter, and initiates a DHO with Devin Booker. The point guard forces the blitz and gets help from Eubanks, which opens up the lane to the rim for Oso, who only has to finish calmly with a good pocket pass from Dbook.
The rebound
I’m quite proud of them on this point; I mentioned it in a recent article, noting that this would be a significant question for the season. Sure, we have fairly athletic profiles, but we still lack size and assurance. Yet they silenced me right away.
They dominated this area throughout the match, with 14 more rebounds than the Kings (including twice as many offensive rebounds), and they inflicted a very nice 14-6 edge in the third. This is both the quarter with the most rebounds for our team and the one with the lowest score for Sacramento.
Our guards on fire
Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Collin Gillespie were involved (through scoring and assists) in 35 out of 36 points for the Suns in this 3rd quarter.
They did it all, succeeding at drives, three-point shots, setting up teammates, all with incredible cleanliness and efficiency: just 1 turnover and 10-13 shooting field goals. They were the precursors, the initiators, and the offensive engines of this comeback.
Clean basketball
To elaborate on what was mentioned above, our Suns were overall very clean, offensively and defensively: just 6 fouls, a 15/24 shooting record, and only 1 turnover. Jordan Ott’s wish was fulfilled, and his team maximized their possessions.
Lesson in motion
Maxime Raynaud, as a rookie in the post versus Mark Williams, made the mistake of not reading the entire situation… Booker, with the move of a pure veteran, slipped behind him and stole the ball, charging straight toward the basket for a quick dunk. A lesson in game reading and experience offered live.
I find this revealing of a certain state of mind and the ability to capitalize on every mistake or failure from the opponent. Here, in this possession, the Frenchie remained too static and turned away from the game for too long, and Booker took advantage of it to steal the ball and then score to allow the Suns to come within 5 points.
The return of the Dunngeon
As a true watchdog, Ryan Dunn defended against the entire Sacramento team in the third quarter, the coach, the video analyst, and a few fans who made the trip…
No kidding, our sophomore was really tasked everywhere. One moment on Schroder, a possession on Lavine, a box-out on Eubanks, a contest on DeRozan. Certainly, he can be frustrating at times (especially offensively), but on the other side, what a breath of fresh air he brings us. With his mobility, energy, and wingspan. And this quarter proves it perfectly.
Our Suns will continue their streak in the fourth quarter, providing the first thrills, but also the first victory of this long and exciting season.
