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PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ Royce O’Neale provides huge spark off bench, lights up Cavaliers from 3

Suns guard Royce O'Neale lit up the Cavaliers from three in the first half and ignited a significant lead through three quarters.

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In his first 12 minutes off the bench, Phoenix Suns guard Royce O’Neale absolutely lit up the Cleveland Cavaliers from three-point country.

His 5 of 6 effort from deep in the first half helped the Suns build a sizable lead (62-51) at the break, which they would hold onto in a 123-112 home win.

The first three knockdowns by O’Neale came from the helping hand of Kevin Durant, who was all over the court for Phoenix with 32 points, six rebounds and eight assists through three quarters.

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O’Neale last made at least five three-balls on Feb. 28 in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, in which he made 6 of 9.

Devin Booker added 11 points of his own, while Tyus Jones (13), Collin Gillespie (13) and Ryan Dunn (10) already earned double-digit scoring status.

On the other side, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell was struggling immensely with his shot, 2 of 15 from the field and 0 for 6 from three.

The Cavs, who boast the second-best record in the NBA (56-13), entered Friday on a three-game losing streak.

Payne Moses ArizonaSports.com editor

Payne Moses is a web content editor for KTAR News and Arizona Sports at Bonneville Phoenix. A lifelong Arizonan, Payne briefly left the state to play collegiate golf but returned to pursue his passion for journalism. When he’s not managing digital… Read more

Comments

4 Comments

The B Fan
The B Fan 1 year ago

Subtract Beal, Allen, Nurk and Plum

Add Gillespie, Dunn, Oso, Richards and Martin - the result is D and Energy!!

We can score, D and Chemistry has been the clear missing pieces..

And I wouldn’t be surprised at all to learn that the Team was rebelling as Beal and Allen hadn’t been earning the playing time they kept getting..

Bud, let this team with Richards, finish out the Season.. They LOOK like they enjoy playing together and the energy is a polar opposite from last Sun vs the Lakes on National TV.. And that was the last time Beal played..

3 in a row since, and 3-1 with Collin starting..

Also 18-10 when Dunn scores 10 or more..
Are 32-26 when KD plays
Are 33-32 when Book plays
Are 20-28 when Beal plays

Okay good start to this stretch! Let’s build off of it! We definitely have confidence going!

TheConservativeMind
TheConservativeMind 1 year ago

Yup! These young guys just bring an energy and toughness we’ve been lacking

The B Fan
The B Fan 1 year ago

He was awesome
And props to Oso and Gillespie and Martin and KD and even Book on a night when his shot was off..

Probably the best game of the year

Against a fully healthy Cavs team too.. So there shouldn’t be excuses for winning