The Phoenix Suns can salvage their fast-setting playoff hopes with a robust exhibiting of their five-game homestand, which can start Monday evening in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
With each groups taking part in the second leg of a back-to-back set, Phoenix (31-37) enters Monday’s contest 1 1/2 video games behind Dallas for the Western Convention’s closing spot within the play-in spherical.
The Suns had a possibility to realize floor Sunday, coming off a win over ninth-place Sacramento on Friday and with Dallas shedding at residence to Philadelphia earlier on Sunday. Nonetheless, a 107-96 setback in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers despatched Phoenix to its fifteenth loss over the past 21 video games.
“In spots, we present we will do it. That is what makes it much more irritating,” Devin Booker mentioned of the Suns’ struggles, by way of the Arizona Republic. “Now we have a recreation like (Friday’s 122-106 win over Sacramento), after which we are available in and miss just a few pictures, and that impacts our protection.
“If you happen to’re taking part in with vitality and energy, you may sleep nicely at evening regardless. I do not assume we’re doing that proper now.”
Sunday was amongst Phoenix’s higher defensive performances so far as factors allowed, with the 107 the Lakers scored being the second-fewest the Suns gave up since Feb. 1.
Nonetheless, Phoenix’s 96 factors had been the fewest the workforce scored since registering 92 in a Jan. 20 loss to Cleveland.
Booker and Kevin Durant every shot 6 of 17 from the ground on Sunday and mixed for 40 factors. Phoenix additionally misplaced its third-leading scorer, Bradley Beal at 17.6 factors per recreation, to a left hamstring harm.
Beal’s unsure standing for the closing stretch of the common season places a better premium on Monday’s alternative in opposition to a struggling opponent. Toronto (24-44) fell to 8-24 away from residence this season with a 105-102 loss at Portland on Sunday.
The Raptors are in eleventh place within the Japanese Convention, 4 1/2 video games behind Tenth-place Chicago.
Toronto was with out main scorer RJ Barrett (21.5 factors per recreation) in addition to Gradey Dick and Immanuel Quickley for Sunday’s recreation, the second date in a four-game highway swing.
The Raptors started the Western Convention journey on Friday with a 126-118 win over Utah. Toronto had run off three straight wins and 6 in its earlier seven video games earlier than the go to to Portland.
Regardless of the loss, and the number of noteworthy absences, Sunday’s contest marked the return of Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto lineup for the primary time since Feb. 28. He delivered 19 factors in his first recreation again from an ankle harm, matching Jakob Poeltl’s workforce excessive in scoring.
Poeltl shot 9 of 13 from the ground and grabbed 9 rebounds within the loss.
“Consistency has at all times been the aim all through my profession,” Poeltl advised SportsNet. “I’ve by no means had a aim … to enhance on this one particular factor. I simply wished to be a greater basketball participant total by slightly bit each single 12 months.”
Averaging profession highs in scoring at 14.2 factors and rebounding with 9.6 per recreation, Poeltl is conducting that in 2024-25.
He was not within the lineup when Phoenix and Toronto most just lately met — a 127-109 Raptors residence win on Feb. 23. Barrett and Quickley led the way in which with 23 factors apiece, weathering Booker’s 31 factors and Beal’s 30 for the Suns.
–Area Degree Media