Suns’ Loss to Magic: All-Star’s Struggles Take Center Stage
The Phoenix Suns suffered their fourth consecutive loss without All-Stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal on Monday against the Orlando Magic. Suns’ star Devin Booker had a lowly performance of 17 points on 14% shooting from beyond the arc, resulting in a 109-99 loss to the Magic.
Booker shot 35.7% from the field in the Suns’ latest loss. Due to calf strains, Durant and Beal were both sidelined for the team’s game against Orlando. Phoenix is now 9-6 this season and has fallen to the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings.
Booker and the Suns came from a 120-117 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. The Suns star had a 44-point performance, but Julius Randle’s last-second shot sealed the win for the Wolves.
Phoenix hoped to end their losing streak with a victory before their game on Monday.
Following their game, head coach Mike Budenholzer expressed his hope that the Suns will quickly overcome their recent setbacks.
“These guys, I think, stay together. It’s a good group, they’ve got a good spirit, they’ve got a good way about ‘em – through good times and the hard times,” Bud said. “You gotta keep doing, coming to work, putting your individual time, put your team time in and keep your head up. This group will do that. They’re very good, they’re very resilient.”
Their next game will be on Wednesday against the New York Knicks. Phoenix’s game against the Knicks will be the first time the two teams will play against each other this season. The last time they had a match was in December last season.
The Suns had a 139-122 in their last season matchup against the Knicks. Booker had 28 points in their game, while Durant ended the night with 29.
Phoenix Suns coach talked about making adjustments in handling double teams for Devin Booker
In their 99-83 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defense had the same strategy of sending double teams to the former Kentucky Wildcats star. Booker found it difficult to contribute offensively with multiple defenders fixated on him and had a scoreless first half. He ended the night with 12 points and shot 20% from the field.
After the Suns’ loss to the Magic, Bud spoke about what the team could do if their star gets double-teamed by the defense.
“I think sometimes maybe moving him, getting him off the ball some. If they put two [defenders] to him…. there are some good looks,” Bud said. “If they put two to him and he shares it and we move it and you get good looks, we got a lot of faith in our guys. We’re gonna make those more often than not. I think to use him to draw two is good, and then sometimes we gotta try and free him up, maybe away from the ball or different ways.”.
Without his All-Star teammates, Booker has been the focal point of the opposing team’s defenses. Against the Magic, he saw multiple players pay attention to him, which prevented the Phoenix Suns’ offense from operating smoothly.
