Suns outlast Hawks in up-tempo, offensive slugfest: By the numbers
Mar 3, 2014, 6:44 AM | Updated: 6:45 am
So much for defense.
For the second game in a row, the Phoenix Suns focused primarily at the offensive end, and for the second game in a row it yielded a result greater than 115 points.
Unlike Friday, though, simply reaching the 115-point mark was not enough. No, Phoenix had to go above and beyond to outlast the visiting Atlanta Hawks.
Setting a new season-high in the process, the Suns topped the Hawks 129-120 in front of 16,759 fans at the US Airways Center.
Here’s a look at the offensive slugfest by the numbers:
1:
The Suns allowed a new season-high point total in the first quarter, allowing the Hawks to score 37. Luckily, Jeff Hornacek’s squad also tied a season-high in the frame with 40.
2:
Starting center Miles Plumlee matched a season-low for points at home with two. He played only 12 minutes and continued to struggle at the offensive end.
7:
Phoenix had seven different players record at least one steals, including Ish Smith, who had three off the bench. The Suns finished the contest with nine in all.
10:
Newly-acquired center Shavlik Randolph played 10 minutes Sunday. He finished with two points and two rebounds.
33:
Gerald Green scored a game-high 33 points on 5-of-8 from three-point range. Green has two 30-point games in the first eight games since the All-Star break. In the first 51 games of the season, he had just one 30-point game.
39:
The Morris twins were at it again Sunday. After combining for 33 points in Friday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the former Kansas standouts outdid themselves against the Hawks. Marcus and Markieff combined for 39 points and 17 rebounds in the win. In all, Phoenix received 56 points from its bench.
75:
In six of its eight games since the All-Star break, Phoenix has allowed over 100 points. Over its last five games, Phoenix has allowed 110 points or more.
79:
The Suns’ 79 points in the first half set a new season-high for both the organization and the entire NBA. In fact, it’s the second most points Phoenix has ever scored in a first half at the Purple Palace — 81 vs. Los Angeles Clippers in 2009.
86.7:
It’s not easy to reach 129 points in 48 minutes of basketball, but it helps to have a nice night from the free throw line. The Suns hit 26 of their 30 attempts (86.7 percent) from the charity stripe, including a perfect 10-for-10 night out of Green.
