The Phoenix Suns have been underwhelming this season, with their three stars, Paul, Booker and Ayton, rarely playing at the same time due to injuries and the pandemic. The Suns, who are 10th in the West, desperately need to get back to winning feeling, and their chance has finally arrived.
In yesterday's game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Suns' Big Three finally came together for their first combined debut of the season. Suns fans and ** are full of anticipation for this game, believing that the Suns are expected to defeat strong opponents in the East and show their championship strength.
However, contrary to expectations, the Suns did not show as much toughness as they expected in this game, and they encountered stubborn resistance from the Nets in their combined debut, so much so that they could not win the game. The Suns were behind in the first three quarters until late in the fourth quarter when they launched a wave of counterattacks, but they were unable to turn the tide and eventually lost to the Nets 117-122.
The Suns' Big Three didn't have a good time in this game either, with none of them scoring more than 20 points and shooting from the field. Paul had just 15 points and 12 assists, Booker had just 16 points and five assists, and Ayton had just 18 points and 11 rebounds. In contrast, the Nets' two biggest stars, Durant and Beal, both played efficiently, with Durant scoring 57 points and 8 rebounds, while Beal had 35 points and 10 assists, and although Beal was injured early in the fourth quarter, he had already laid the foundation for the Nets' victory.
The result of this game disappointed the Suns fans and **, they thought that the Suns' championship core lineup was not as strong as they imagined, and they still needed to be further run in and improved. Based on their current standings and form, they still have a long way to go if they want to establish themselves in the West.
The day after the Suns' combined debut loss, they faced another test, returning home to face the New York Knicks. The Knicks have also had a good season, finishing fourth in the East, and their head coach, former Suns star, Nash, has led a group of young players with a lot of tenacity and energy. The core player of the Knicks, Brunson, has ushered in an explosion this season, with his average points per game reaching 27With five points and fifth in the league, he has become the leader and soul of the Knicks.
This game has a special meaning for the Suns and the Knicks, the Suns want to take this opportunity to regain the confidence to win and prove their strength, and the Knicks want to take this opportunity to show their progress to the whole league and surprise Nash. Both teams were not willing to give up easily, and they had a fierce matchup in the game.
In the first three quarters of the game, the Suns took the initiative, and their Big Three found their form in this game, scoring more than 20 points and shooting percentage improved. Paul had 23 points and 14 assists, Booker had 24 points and six assists, and Ayton had 22 points and 13 rebounds. The Suns were fluid offense and solid defensively, and they ended the third quarter with an 11-point lead over the Knicks at 91-80.
The Knicks didn't have a great first three quarters, with their offense inefficient and their defense porous, and they were the only ones fighting Brunson, who scored 32 points in the first three quarters, but his teammates didn't give him enough support. Knicks fans and ** believe that there is no suspense in this game, and the Knicks will suffer a heavy defeat.
However, just when everyone thought the Knicks were lost, they launched a shocking comeback in the fourth quarter, and they went on a 38-16 offensive run in the final quarter to tie the score and eventually beat the Suns 118-107 to complete an incredible victory.
The Knicks' comeback was mainly due to Brunson's courageous performance, he scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three key three-pointers, and his last three-pointer extended the score to eight points with more than one minute left in the game, sealing the victory for the Knicks. Brunson set a career-high with 47 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists in this game, and his performance amazed the fans and ** all over the court, and he was hailed as the god of the Knicks.
The rest of the Knicks' players also exploded in the fourth quarter, their defense became more aggressive, their offense became more flexible, their scoring was spread out, and their bench players, especially Noel and Rose, also helped Brunson well, scoring 14 and 12 points respectively, and their performances showed the depth of the Knicks' bench.