Devin Booker is back for the Suns, who can therefore rely on their entire “Big Three”, while Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Max Strus are still missing from the Cavaliers…
This does not prevent Cleveland from getting the best start, behind a Darius Garland on fire at 3-points!
The ball circulates well on the Ohio side, and the gap rises to +19 (63-44) behind a new 3-pointer from the leader, who is already at 24 points at 6/7 from afar. It's too much for Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who take things in hand, the winger slamming a dunk which punctuates a big sequence for Phoenix, back to -7 (70-63) at the break.
Cleveland mistakes that hurt at the end
The “momentum” has clearly shifted towards the Suns, with Darius Garland being monitored and pushed around, while Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are fixing the opposing defense to shift Kevin Durant, who is firing on all cylinders.
We think that the Suns will escape but both teams have difficulty finding the way to the circle in the fourth quarter, which allows the Cavaliers to believe in it until the end. Entering the last minute, Cleveland was only two points behind (111-113) and in possession.
Darius Garland thinks he gets the equalizer by sending Jarrett Allen to the alley-oop but the pivot is a bit too short, and the ball is stolen on the descent. After a miss from Kevin Durant, the Cavaliers still have the opportunity to equalize or go ahead, but Isaac Okoro walks on the sideline, and Cleveland loses the ball again…
JB Bickerstaff's players missed their chance, and Phoenix won (111-117) at the end of the suspense.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Untenable Darius Garland. With his 25 points at 6/7 from distance in the first half, Darius Garland made the Phoenix defense dizzy for a long time. It was when he calmed down that the Suns were able to come back.
– Despite its complete “Big Three”, the Suns were hot. Back, Devin Booker compiled 27 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds to go with Kevin Durant's 37 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and Bradley Beal's 24 points. Phoenix's game often comes down to fixing/passing between the three All-Stars, and it held up this time, despite some big scares in the last quarter. Next meeting in Boston…
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
