Suns Strokes: Phoenix rolls Lakers in biggest win of season
Two days before Christmas, Suns fans received the best gift of all: A win over the Lakers.
But it was not just any win. No, it was the biggest win of the season in terms of margin of victory, 27 points.
The final, 117-90 in front of 14,814 at US Airways Center.
Five players scored in double figures, led by Gerald Green’s 22 points off the bench, hitting six of 11 threes. Miles Plumlee added 17 points, but it was his work on the boards that helped the Suns win their third straight and third straight against the Lakers, the longest winning streak for Phoenix in the series since 2007.
Plumlee grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, becoming the first Suns player with 20 or more rebounds in a game since Amar’e Stoudemire had 21 on Dec. 5, 2009 against Sacramento.
The Suns have won eight of nine and at 17-10 are off to their best start since 2009.
THE GOOD
Green has made four or more 3s in three straight games, which is a career-long.
Marcus Morris scored 19 points (6-of-9) off the bench and made a career-high five three-pointers.
Eric Bledsoe set a career-high with 11 rebounds, giving him his first-ever points/rebounds double-double. He had 16 points.
THE BAD
Not much went wrong for the Suns, though they were outscored 10-1 to close the first quarter and then surrendered a 10-2 run midway through the second quarter allowing the Lakers to pull to within 44-40 with 6:39 remaining in the first half. It would be the closest L.A. would get the rest of the game.
The Lakers shot 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) in the third quarter and 11-of-37 (29.7 percent) in the second half, getting outscored 53-39.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Suns’ 62 rebounds were a season-high and the most by the Suns since recording 67 rebounds at Dallas on Feb. 17, 1998.
The Suns also had 49 defensive rebounds, the most in a game since posting 50 in the same game at Dallas. The Suns won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Lakers 62-39. The +23 differential is the highest by the Suns since posting a +37 (58-21) in a 140-100 win vs. the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 17, 2009.
HE SAID IT
“With everything that shows up on the stat sheet I think that it was definitely my best game,” Plumlee said. “But I left a lot of easy things on the table too so it’s exciting, I guess, because I know that I can do better.”
NOTED
The Suns’ 64 first-half points tied a season high.
The Suns didn’t win their 17th game last season until Feb. 5.
The Suns made 14 3s, extending their franchise-long streak of hitting seven or more 3s to 19 straight games.
Suns former lottery pick Kendall Marshall received a smattering of boos when he entered the game with 3:49 remaining. He missed his lone shot attempt and grabbed one rebound.
UP NEXT
After spending Christmas at home, the Suns will hit the road. They travel to the Bay Area for a game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 620.
