Phoenix let a game slip through its fingers after controlling it for long stretches, falling 124–122 following a brutal collapse in the fourth quarter. The night had every ingredient for a Suns win: dominance on the glass (47–34), a barrage of offensive rebounds (16), and a third quarter won 37–20…but the 17 turnovers and inconsistent ball movement proved too costly to overcome.
Dillon Brooks, scorching with 34 points on 56% shooting, led the way, while the duo of Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin
delivered a huge boost off the bench (29 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists combined). On the other side, Atlanta’s starters carried the load, led by an all-around Jalen Johnson (25-10-7) and an unstoppable Onyeka Okongwu (27 points). A frustrating loss built as much on effort as on the little details abandoned along the way.
Game Flow
First Half
Phoenix opened the game in messy fashion: five straight missed shots, no perimeter touch, but just enough aggression and movement to stay afloat. Atlanta, meanwhile, played with more poise and fluidity. After six minutes, the Hawks led 17–11, prompting Jordan Ott to take the first timeout.
The rest of the quarter matched the tone: Phoenix shot just 8/28 overall, 1/12 from three, and committed three turnovers. Paradoxically, the team grabbed ten offensive rebounds but converted only eight second-chance points. Atlanta wasn’t dazzling either, far from it, but capitalized on Phoenix’s early struggles to take the opening period 25–21 in a gritty, grind-it-out style. In the end, the Suns nearly got away with it by trailing only by four.
The second quarter started far better. The physical impact remained, ball movement improved, and the shooting finally showed signs of life (4/6 to open the period). This time, it was Quin Snyder who had to halt the momentum (32–31). The Suns’ bench—Gillespie, Goodwin, and Dunn—provided real energy, but Atlanta continued to thrive through crisp team offense: 16 of their first 18 field goals were assisted. Jalen Johnson, once again red hot, led the charge with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
After an 18–6 run, pushing the score to 50–37, Ott burned his third timeout to reset the group. The reaction was immediate. Dillon Brooks ignited the quarter (11 points, a steal, a drawn charge), the Suns finally elevated their intensity, and delivered a 21–7 run to close out the half. Two free throws from Gillespie sealed the comeback: one to tie, the next to take the lead.
Phoenix returned to the locker room up 58–57, after a chaotic first half where they somehow managed to reinvent themselves. Despite the painful 22/53 shooting, the Suns’ dirty work was lethal: 29 rebounds and 7 stocks already.
Second Half
Dillon Brooks picked up right where he left off: eight quick points to start a second half that finally looked more coherent, even though both teams still left plenty of mistakes on the floor. The offenses found more rhythm, but Atlanta held a slight edge four minutes in (71–69), still driven by an all-around Jalen Johnson (18-7-6) and a sharp Onyeka Okongwu. The Daniels–NAW backcourt added timely contributions to keep the Hawks ahead.
Then Brooks shifted into bulldozer mode. His two-way activity flipped the game’s rhythm and allowed the Suns to take a five-point lead entering the final minutes of the quarter (80–75). And even if his name stood out most, the whole team elevated its level: the defense tightened, rotations sharpened, and turnovers finally dropped.
The end of the quarter turned into a full-on statement. Behind the second unit and a suddenly inspired Isaiah Livers, Phoenix unleashed a devastating 15–0 run that blew the game open. The Suns poured in 37 points in the period—16 from Brooks—and entered the fourth with a commanding 95–77 lead.
If the phrase “night and day” needed a visual illustration, these Suns would be the perfect example. The opening minutes of the fourth quarter were a showcase. Phoenix imposed a relentless pace, the bench was fired up on every play, and the defense looked airtight. The Suns cruised to a 22-point lead and seemed fully in control.
Then the cracks formed. A few light sequences, late rotations, and lapses in focus allowed Atlanta to trim the lead to 12 with seven minutes left. The momentum began to swing: Phoenix slid back into its first-half bad habits—forced shots, rushed possessions, and shaky execution. With five minutes remaining, the lead was down to six (107–101).
The spiral continued. The same mistakes repeated themselves, and the Hawks pounced on every opening. Devin Booker kept the team afloat with five points and a key steal, but Phoenix remained unable to steady the game. With 3:30 left, the lead shrank again: 112–106.
Then the money-time turned into a nightmare. The Suns conceded too many easy looks at the rim, rotations lost their sharpness, and confidence clearly shifted to the Hawks’ side. Atlanta took the lead 119–118 with 45 seconds remaining. The ending mirrored the quarter: too much complacency, too many errors, and the feeling the Suns had seen the win too early.
Phoenix collapsed in the decisive moments and dropped another late-game battle, a defeat both bitter and deserved. Final score: 124–122.
Up Next
The Suns now head to Portland to face a solid Blazers team that also lost tonight. On paper, Portland offers more stability, but they remain well within reach — especially considering they’ve won only one of their last five games. This matchup is a real opportunity to bounce back and clean up the details that proved costly against Atlanta.
