The checkered start to the season Suns continues, since the teammates of a Kevin Durant still brilliant but still too lonely (28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists) fell for the 6th time in 10 games. This time it was at home against Thunder (111-99).
With Bradley Beal (15 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists but 5 turnovers) but without Devin Bookerthe attack of the Phoenix club actually slipped (38.1% on shots, 17 turnovers), and against a Thunder much more mature than last season, that is not forgiving.
Because Mark Daigneault’s troops went on attack, finishing the game with 49% shooting success, driven by the career record of Jalen Williams (31 points at 11/16 on shots), but also a new XXL performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (35 points at 13/22, 7 rebounds and 4 assists). The two OKC players particularly shone in the last quarter, the first notably offering an “and-one” on the muzzle of “KD” and the second a “step-back” 3-pointer to distance himself the opposing team for good.
With this victory, the 6th in 10 games this season, the Thunder joins the Top 6 of the Western Conference, while the Suns, in search of automatisms and waiting for the return of their injured, are stagnating in the soft underbelly.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Jalen Williams’ new points record. An extremely interesting rookie last season, Jalen Williams is already an indisputable starter in Oklahoma City and he is starting his second campaign very well with the Thunder (16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists before the match). Against the Suns and Kevin Durant, he even released his new reference match on the offensive level: 31 points on 11 shots scored, for 16 attempted. “J-Dub” has continued to progress for over a year.
– The Suns are still looking for an identity on offense. The absence of Devin Booker, the true “playmaker” of this team, must of course be taken into account, but the fact remains that this Suns team struggles at times, in this young season, to deliver a game quality offensive. This game against the dynamic and athletic defense of the Thunder is the best example, while with the exception of the scoring machine Kevin Durant, no one in the Arizona collective managed to find solutions on a regular basis. . The Suns are still looking for themselves in attack, and they are undoubtedly impatiently awaiting the return of “Book”…
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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.
