For the Suns, coming off a back-to-back in Indiana with some injuries, it was going to be a battle. That was for sure the case, as even still shorthanded, they chose to fight throughout most of this game. Sadly, though, it was not enough, even though they tried to push this one open multiple times. The scoring fight in the fourth, alongside the Raptors’ paint dominance, was just too much for this team to handle. They end up falling to the Raptors 122-115, in a game they had in their back pocket.
This team is now 2-1 on their road trip, with important games coming up against the Celtics, Spurs, and Timberwolves. All is crucial to their final standings in this West that continues to prove a gauntlet. That being said they were some bright spots in this game that should not go unnoticed.
Devin Booker and Jalen Green combined to prove the doubters wrong about their backcourt pairing, and they continue to do so. We also got to see the rookie Rasheer Fleming have his best game for the club. Add that to Jordan Goodwin’s hustle and impact plays, and there were some positives to be shown even if the outcome was negative.
Game Flow
First Half
When this one kicked off, the Suns looked a bit jet-lagged to start, coming off the back-to-back vs the Pacers yesterday. Defensively, they were allowing the Raptors to drive and score inside, as both Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl started with 4 points each. The Raptors then had the lead, but Jalen Green came in to put that fire out and start one of his own. In the first five minutes, he was already 3/3 from beyond the arc and woke up the team to take the lead.
The Suns then found some rhythm as they traded baskets and free-throw trips with Toronto. That is right, ladies and gentlemen, so far after the first quarter, there have been 17 free throws combined from both teams. One key piece has been Jordan Goodwin, though, as he is trying to help this team create after being listed as available at the last minute. He had 5 rebounds in the first quarter. This has allowed the Raptors to have a 2-point lead, 30-28, after the first quarter.
Remember how I said they came into this game with some jet lag? Well, that could not be the opposite of the start of the second quarter. Here, the Suns took advantage of their stellar three-point shooting, as Green, Highsmith, and Allen all made a triple to push the lead to seven for Phoenix early.
After these timeouts, the team has some more motivation (I want to know what Ott says to them), and that is clearly on display in this contest. Another notable development from this quarter was the rookies breaking out once again. With each game, they continue to get better as the minutes go by, and Rasheer Fleming showed that in a nice little sequence. He had two huge blocks on back-to-back possessions, and then hit a three on the other end to keep the Suns up four.
The Suns were able to keep the lead for a bit before Brandon Ingram started getting hot for the Raptors. He had a stint on his own, like Booker, where they completely swung the momentum offensively with a run of their own. Luckily, the Suns have rookie Rasheer Fleming in, though, as he had another crazy block, totaling a career-high of three, and it is just the first half.
After being down two to enter the quarter, the Suns now lead three into the half. They are led by Jalen Green, who has 19 points so far and five three-pointers. After combining for 79 last night with Booker, they now have 36 in this first half. The Raptors are led by Brandon Ingram, who has 16 points.
Second Half
To start the second half, the team kept the same composure as the second quarter, aggressive, and they delivered. The Suns once again went with Green and Booker creating the offense, with both of them finding buckets early on, and Royce O’Neale got involved, making his first basket. As Ingram tried to match them, Green answered with a slam that was worthy of bringing the house down.
Unfortunately, it was not all sunshine and rainbows in the third, though. As the team looked like they could make this game up to 10, the Raptors started to climb back. Finding easy baskets in the paint from Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ingram, still shooting hot, makes it now a three-point game. The Raptors at this point have outscored the Suns 40-24 in the paint, something the team has struggled with all year. Green, though, has seven made threes and, in this back-to-back, has seemed to convince his doubters wrong.
Luckily for the Suns, they have Devin Booker and Jalen Green, who show up when they need them most. Booker hit a buzzer-beater mid-range to end the third and put the team up 92-86, but they have 53 points combined after the third. Jordan Goodwin continues to do all the little things and show he deserves his appreciation as well.
The first-quarter start is now fantasy, as the team completely forgot about it. They continue to come out hot, with Green making another nice basket and Rasheer Fleming growing right in front of everyone’s eyes. He had a great steal and three makes on the other end to keep him in this lineup.
The team continues to make big buckets as Jalen Green is now up to 43 points and has tied a career high of 8 made threes. Alongside him, everyone in this rotation is making winning plays by playing hard defense, rewarding the offense with three-point makes.
The Raptors, though, will not back down as Ja’Kobe Walter starts making some threes. The Suns are trying to pry this one open, but when they reach double digits, Toronto comes on, crawling back. This time, they fought back enough to steal that lead right back. A scoring drought for the Suns could not come at a worse time, as the officials have their (own fun) too.
With 3:33 left, the Suns now see themselves down one and try to steal the third game of the road trip after an RJ Barrett three. He woke up in the fourth, making big shots late to keep this Raptors team with the lead, even after a clutch Royce O’Neale three. Ingram then made another jumper to bring his total to 36 points and to make the lead up to four. Green tried to make a dunk but was blocked by Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors then found Barrett for a layup to make it six. This was the end for Phoenix as they lost this one by seven and let a tough one get away.
Next Up
This team continues its road trip heading down to Boston to take on the Celtics on Monday. A game they are looking for revenge after getting embarrassed at home, without Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum. Will Booker find his rhythm in TD Garden? Only time will tell.
