Phoenix Suns can save their quick playoffs hopes with a strong show in their five-game home tooth, which will start Monday night against Toronto Raptors.
With both teams playing the second part of a back-to-back set, Phoenix (31-37) comes into Monday’s competition 1 1/2 matches behind Dallas for Western Conference’s final place in the Play-in round.
Suns had an opportunity to win land on Sunday, came from a victory over ninth place Sacramento on Friday and with Dallas who lost at home against Philadelphia earlier on Sunday. However, a setback of 107-96 against the Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix sent to their 15th loss in the last 21 games.
“In places we show that we can do it. That’s what makes it even more frustrating,” Devin Booker said about Suns’ struggle via Arizona Republic. “We have a game that (Friday’s 122-106 victory over Sacramento), and then we come in and miss some shots, and it affects our defense.
“If you play with energy and effort you can sleep well at night regardless. I don’t think we’re doing it right now.”
On Sunday, among Phoenix, better defensive performances were as far as permitted points, with the 107 Lakers, the next friend that Suns gave up since February 1st.
However, the Phoenix 96 points were the smallest that the team did since he registered 92 in a loss on January 20 to Cleveland.
Booker and Kevin Durant shot each 6 out of 17 from the floor on Sunday and combined for 40 points. Phoenix also lost its third leading goal scorer, Bradley Beal at 17.6 points per match, to a left hamstrings injury.
Beal’s uncertain status for the closing distance of the regular season sets a higher premium on Monday’s opportunity against a struggling opponent. Toronto (24-44) fell to 8-24 from home this season with a loss of 105-102 in Portland on Sunday.
Raptors is in 11th place in the eastern conference, 4 1/2 matches behind 10th place Chicago.
Toronto was without a leading goal scorer RJ Barrett (21.5 points per match) as well as Grady Dick and Immanuel Quickley for Sunday’s game, the second date in a four-game road swing.
Raptors started the Western Conference trip on Friday with a victory 126-118 over Utah. Toronto had driven off three straight wins and six in his previous seven games before the visit to Portland.
Despite the loss, and the various remarkable absence, Sunday’s competition marked the return of and AGBAJI to the Toronto range for the first time since February 28. He delivered 19 points in his first match back from an ankle injury, matching Jakob Poeltl’s team high in points.
Poeltl shot 9 out of 13 from the floor and took nine returns in the loss.
“Consistence has always been the goal throughout my career,” Poeltl told Sportsnet. “I’ve never had a goal … to improve this specific thing. I just wanted to be a better basketball player overall a little every year.”
Average career heights in points of 14.2 points and rebounding with 9.6 per match, Poeltl does it 2024-25.
He was not in the range when Phoenix and Toronto last met-one 127-109 Raptor’s home victory on February 23. Barrett and Quickley led the road with 23 points per piece, Weathering Bookers 31 points and Beal’s 30 for Suns.
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