Suns’ Ayton on playoffs: ‘It’s the kind of basketball I’ve been waiting for’

May 27, 2021, 11:51 PM | Updated: May 28, 2021, 1:19 am

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 25: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns drives the ball against Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

BY RACHEL GOSSEN

Arizona Sports

Playoffs look good on Deandre Ayton.

The center kept the Phoenix Suns afloat in Thursday’s 109-95 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, leading the team with 22 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 11-of-15.

Through three series games, Ayton is shooting 32-of-39 (82%) from the field while averaging 21.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

It’s surprising to see this in a high-pressure situation, especially since during the regular season, he averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

So what’s different about these matchups?

“It’s the kind of basketball I’ve been waiting for, to be honest,” Ayton said postgame.

“I’ve been training for this and we’re finally here, so I’ve got to take advantage.”

Ayton smashed a dunk in the second quarter with an assist from veteran point guard Chris Paul to bring the Suns within three of the Lakers.

We refer to this as

"DOMINAYTON" pic.twitter.com/Y8SHzk6BVB

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 28, 2021

To keep the success going, the 22-year-old is focused not on his stat line, but the task at hand.

“Being poised throughout this series is key and taking our time,” he said. “Just sticking together especially when games like this get lit and amped up. We just have to maintain discipline and play the basketball we know.”

Going up against LeBron James and the defending champ Lakers isn’t an easy task for your first time in the playoffs, so Ayton said he is using the motivation reaching the playoffs has brought to fuel both him and his team.

“It’s a big opportunity that we’re in the playoffs,” he said. “We showed that the work that we’ve all put in, the stuff that we’ve went through, the adversity that we’ve went over, it brought us here.

“Now it’s just time to maintain and just play the best basketball we can play at the highest level.”

The Suns will look to even the series on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for all the action.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns battles Andre Drummond #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers for a rebound during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Staples Center on May 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns pressures Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Staples Center on May 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Dennis Schroder #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a layup past the defense of Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Staples Center on May 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns shoots over the defense of Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Staples Center on May 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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