Suns Strokes: ‘Wonder Twins’ lead Phoenix to third straight win
Mar 2, 2013, 5:42 AM | Updated: 5:50 am
Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we will give you Suns Strokes, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from the Suns’ 92-87 win over the Hawks on March 1.
The Good:
The Suns extended their winning streak to three straight games, the longest since winning a season-high four straight games from Dec. 12-19. They did so behind the combined efforts of Marcus (16 pts) and Markieff Morris (11 pts).
Marcus made a career-high tying four three-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter when all five reserves played all 12 fourth-quarter minutes. The Suns bench outscored the Hawks bench, 58-34. Since the trade deadline, that unit is averaging 44.8 points in the last five games.
The Bad:
Goran Dragic left the game with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter after what he described as “an awkward fall” driving to the basket with Devin Harris defending. Dragic, who recorded his seventh-straight double-digit scoring effort with a team-high 19 points, suffered a right lower back bruise and is officially listed as day-to-day.
And after having the third-worst record in the NBA earlier in the week, the Suns — after Friday night’s action, are now sixth-worst (tied with Hornets).
He Said It:
“It felt good,” Wesley Johnson said of scoring 13 of his season-high 15 points in the third quarter. “Just knowing how the first half had went, I was ready to try to come out there and really just get stuff going, just really try to pick everybody up, get my offense going. My shot was falling so I just kept it going.”
Noted:
• The Suns earned their seventh win of the season against a 30-win team, their fourth such win under Lindsey Hunter.
• Phoenix has held their last three opponents (3-0 record) to an average of 90.3 points on 39.8 percent shooting.
• Jermaine O’Neal received his 11th techical foul of the season for jawing with Al Horford with 6:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• Josh Smith (falsely reported trade target of the Suns) had 5 points (2-of-11 from the field), 10 rebounds, 5 assists and five turnovers.
Up Next:
The Suns (21-39) are off the next four days. The team does not play again until they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, March 6./p>
