All articles tagged with #suns
Despite a high-powered offense, the Lakers are hamstrung by a weak defense—slow rotations and no rim protection—allowing the Suns to punish with a high-volume 3-point attack and a late run. The Big Three aren’t elevating the team into consistent winners, and with playoff positioning at stake, the season risks ending without the Hollywood ending the franchise hopes for.
Phoenix defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 to snap a two-game skid and move to 34-26, also taking the season series. The Suns buried 22 three-pointers, led by Grayson Allen (28 points, six 3s) and Collin Gillespie (21, six 3s), with Royce O’Neale scoring the Suns’ final seven points and hitting the game-winning 3 with 0.9 seconds left. Luka Dončić carried the Lakers late, but Phoenix staged a fourth-quarter rally to secure the win and sit within one game of L.A. for the final playoff spot.
The Lakers blew a double-digit second-half lead to Phoenix, extending a losing streak as they face a tough upcoming schedule. The player grades reflect a mix of bright spots and big flaws: Luka Dončić supplied late offense to jump-start a comeback, LeBron was inefficient offensively, Deandre Ayton struggled defensively, and the team overall remains hampered by shooting and defense.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia denounces tanking as a disgrace that undermines the league’s integrity and says it’s far worse than any prop-bet scandal, urging Adam Silver to enact sweeping changes to remove incentives to lose, potentially overhauling the draft/lottery system and calling on influential voices to speak out in support of competitive integrity.
Joel Embiid's 30-point night and Tyrese Maxey's late surge lift the Philadelphia 76ers to a 109-103 win over the Phoenix Suns, easing a tense week with improved defense and timely scoring from Kelly Oubre Jr.; Adem Bona provides energy off the bench as Philly clamps down late and looks ahead to a road game against Portland.
Phoenix pivoted from a cap-strapped, pick-short future after trading Durant and waiving Beal to support Devin Booker with a defensive-minded coach in Jordan Ott and shrewd fringe signings (Gillespie, Goodwin). The Durant deal, plus midseason role players and enhanced transition defense, transformed a potential lottery team into a surprising playoff contender and top-10 squad, rebuilding around Booker without meaningful draft capital.
Western Conference trade chatter centers on the Pelicans, who have rebuffed interest in Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones but may listen on Yves Missi and Jordan Hawkins; Missi’s role has faded and Hawkins is having a down year, with a Pacers inquiry on Missi already reported. Meanwhile, the Rockets’ slide, the Clippers' resurgence, and potential interest from the Suns and Blazers at the deadline keep the rumor mill active, with mid-tier contracts on those teams viewed as potential trade chips.
The Lakers lost a preseason game to the Suns 113-104, with standout performances from Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, both earning top grades. The game featured mixed performances from other players, with some showing promise and others needing improvement. The game was also notable for being played without key rotation players, emphasizing the importance of main players staying healthy and performing well as the season approaches.
Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves led the Lakers in a preseason game where they lost to the Suns 113-104, with Luka scoring 25 points and Reaves also adding 25. Despite a strong start and impressive individual performances, the Lakers struggled with turnovers and were outscored significantly in the third quarter, leading to their third preseason loss.
Jonathan Kuminga's free agency negotiations are delaying his participation in AfroBasket and have sparked trade interest from the Suns and Kings, with the Warriors seeking a significant unprotected first-round pick in any deal, though no agreement has been reached yet.
Ben Simmons, a versatile and skilled ballhandler and defender, is an unrestricted free agent attracting interest from the Celtics, Knicks, Suns, and Kings, with teams seeking depth and versatility.
Bradley Beal has reached a buyout agreement with the Phoenix Suns and is expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, marking a fresh start after a challenging stint with the Suns.
Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and will join the LA Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal, aiming to fit alongside stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden as a key scorer and playmaker, after a two-year stint with the Suns.
Devin Booker signed a two-year, $145 million extension with the Phoenix Suns, making him the highest-paid player in NBA history per year, solidifying his role as a franchise cornerstone despite recent team trades and uncertainties.
Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns have agreed to a two-year, $145 million contract extension, keeping Booker with the team through 2030 amid a period of significant roster changes and organizational shifts, with Booker committed to the franchise's future.