The Phoenix Suns opened their 2026 postseason with a 35-point loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. There is not much you can grab onto from a game like that. Phoenix was beaten in almost every area you can measure. Effort, execution, physicality, detail. It showed up everywhere. Adjustments are coming. They have to, not even to flip the series, but to make this competitive moving forward.
That said, there are still a few things worth pulling from it. Here are three things that went
right for Phoenix.
Above the Break Three-Point Shooting
The Phoenix Suns are not built to win inside. That has been clear all season, and it showed again in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Phoenix was last among playoff teams in attempts within five feet, taking only 15 shots in that area, and they were also last in efficiency, converting at 40%. Without Mark Williams, that limitation becomes even more pronounced.
Where they did find some success was above the break from three. That is the space at the top of the arc, everything outside of the corners, and Phoenix went 11-of-28, good for 39.3%. The ball movement created those looks. The Suns collapsed the defense, took advantage of the attention on Devin Booker, and found open shooters.
That is the formula. It has to be. Beating Oklahoma City requires you to win from beyond the arc, to stretch them out and make them pay. The issue showed up in the corners. Phoenix went 2-of-10 on corner threes, the cleanest look on the floor. Those have to fall. But ut;s postivie to note that Phoenix found an area of opportunity and converted.
Second Chance Points
The Phoenix Suns were not overwhelmed on the glass. They lost the rebounding battle 54-45, but they made their work count, turning 14 offensive rebounds into 22 second-chance points. Without that, the game looks even more lopsided.
Oso Ighodaro led the charge. Seven of those 14 offensive boards were his. His activity stood out, tipping balls out, keeping possessions alive, and creating second and third chances. It was a constant effort, the kind that gives you a chance to hang around. Granted, the Thunder adjusted, and Oso only had 1 offensive board in the second half. The execution on those extra opportunities could have been cleaner, but the production was there. It was one of the few areas where Phoenix created something positive.
Now our eyes turn to Jordan Goodwin. He left with calf soreness, and that is not a small thing. He has dealt with it before, and it has cost him time. He is one of the best pound-for-pound offensive rebounders on the roster, and his presence matters in that area. The hope is that he can get back. The reality is less certain.
Rasheer Fleming
Garbage time minutes for Rasheer Fleming gave you something. It was only 7:34, but it was productive. 3-of3 from deep, 9 points on confident looks with no hesitation. You never know what it turns into with a longer run, but the flashes were there.
He represents a growing voice in the fan base. It’s the push for more length, more youth, and more flexibility in the rotation. I am in that group. There is a case to give him real minutes here. Let him get out there. Let him feel it. Let him learn in real time.
Because in the short term, this is an uphill climb for the Phoenix Suns. You have to acknowledge that. So why not use part of this moment to evaluate what you have moving forward?
There are questions coming. Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Jalen Green…what does the roster look like next season? Those answers are not here yet. Fleming likely is. Giving him a real opportunity helps now. It helps later.
Again, there is not much you can pull from a game like that for the Phoenix Suns. You compartmentalize it, you move on, and you try to learn from it. That is the focus for the rest of this series.
This is happening in real time, and the Suns have to recognize the reality of it. They are not expected to win this series, and that is fine. They earned their way into the postseason, they overachieved expectations, and now it becomes about building on what they have started. Use these games to build. Recognize what went right, know that the Thunder will attempt to take those things away, and prepare for Wednesday’s Game 2.
