The Suns finally snapped their losing streak. We have said it throughout this stretch: this team is injured, and expecting them to win every game in this state is unrealistic. What made it frustrating was how close they were. Four of the five losses were competitive. They were right there, within reach, and for a variety of reasons, they could not finish.
None of that mattered on Sunday night.
Phoenix handled the Toronto Raptors with ease, and honestly, it was a bit surprising. Toronto is a good team,
sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference and playing with something to protect. But the Suns came out with pressure and never let it go. From the opening tip, they dictated the pace and never allowed themselves to be put into a position where they had to close late. That was the difference.
When Toronto made its push, which they did after the first quarter, Phoenix responded. A 10–2 run right back at them. That has not been happening during this losing streak. Too often, the opponent dictated terms. On this night, the Suns punched back. And they did it together. Shots were falling. Rebounds were secured. The offense had flow. The defense had purpose. It looked like a cohesive group again. Maybe it is growth. Maybe it is players settling into roles. Maybe it was an off night for Toronto.
Either way, you take it.
Because losing wears on everyone. Prolonged losing brings out all the noise. The trade conversations. The overreactions. The hot takes about Devin Booker or Jalen Green that start to creep in. That is not where this team is right now. They are hurt. They are navigating a difficult stretch. It is hard to make clean evaluations when the roster is this limited. The goal is to get healthy, and with each passing day, they move closer to that.
Sunday night was one of those days where it resulted in a win.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Second consecutive game in which Gillespie has earned the BSB. He’s creeping up on Booker in the standings.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 72 against the Raptors. Here are your nominees:
Devin Booker
25 points (9-of-15, 3-of-6 3PT), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, +32 +/-
Jalen Green
20 points (8-of-15, 2-of-5 3PT), 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 block, +15 +/-
Collin Gillespie
16 points (6-of-9, 4-of-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, +6 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
14 points (5-of-11, 3-of-6 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 4 turnovers, +3 +/-
Ryan Dunn
12 points (5-of-8, 2-of-4 3PT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block, +17 +/-
Rasheer Fleming
11 points (4-of-8, 2-of-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 block, +18 +/-
Vote away…
