Game Day: Phoenix Suns (33-26) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (34-23), Thursday Feb. 26th

[djy2j]

I was about 2 hours behind so trying to avoid seeing anything on Twitter. Stumbled across a few posts that made me think we were going to lose. Then the offense started tanking and I was sure of it.

Happy to be wrong! What a shot! What a win!

[Shabazz]

Royce O’Neale, I was familiar with your game but I owe you an apology.

[Kryptonic]

Wow! Woke up and saw they won... incredible win.

[The Bobster]

Likes what we saw from Fleming last night.

[ShelC]

Huge win all around, especially with our injuries and the Lakers having their stars. Gained on the Lakers in the standings, got our shots to fall, saw Grayson back on track, Sheer broke out a bit getting 20 minutes. A lot of back and forth with the score, a game of runs for both teams. We got down 10-12 in the first half, Ott went to the subs who battled back. Got down 10-12 in the 3rd, Ott went back to the subs and mostly stayed with them the rest of the game. It's been trending this way with some starters vs the subs for a while.

Grayson led us, doing just about everything on offense and filling that Book role to an extent. He and CG each had 6 threes and kept the offense moving while putting pressure on the defense. Grayson's taken a huge step in the midrange this year and it's helped really elevate his game. He used to only be a straight-line driver or 3pt shooter, now he's getting into the lane and creating space for the pullup or fadeaway.

Oso with a career high 34 minutes, filled up the stat sheet with 8-4-3-2-2. We know he impacts the game beyond the stats tho and we've just looked better with him on the floor over Williams. Williams still had 10 boards (5 OR) in 13 minutes but the offense stalls with him and Green out there. Green's in a major funk, probably wasn't easy for Ott to go away from him but it was necessary.

Sheer with 8 and 6 in 20 minutes, making plays all over and guarding LBJ and Luka well. He was bothering them more than anyone else. He can fit in perfectly with the 2nd unit for now if he can stay sharp defensively and knocks down 3s. I do like the fact that we have some options tho at the 3/4 with Dunn, Coffey, Sheer and even Livers. Livers is out of the rotation now it seems and minutes will tighten up when Book and Goodwin get back but we have some versatility now with larger wings.

[Mori Chu]

Is there any win more satisfying than beating the Lakers? Luka had 41-8-8 but it wasn't enough. Seeing Ayton get 2 points, 4 rebounds and be a -24 +/- is just glorious. This one puts the Lakers firmly down in 6th in the West, and we are just 1 game behind them. They're the one team I think we could catch and pass in the standings if we start to get some of our guys (Book, Goodwin) back soon. Let's go get it.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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[bajanguy008]

Well no shame in saying I took hours to complete this game. Stopped watching 3 different times because a possible blowout by the Lakers was too frustrating.

It was clear from the 1st quarter that they are so flawed and they really have no right being ahead of us in the standings. I'm glad we closed it out because Grayson had 2 wide open 3s to seal it and would have been rough to lose after how well he played.

Props to Ott for going with the bench so much and taking the ball out of Jalen's hands even sitting him. I'm still not super low on him just I prefer Grayson or Collin initiating up top.

Rasheer has some go-go gadget arms, kinda ridiculous lol how he snags some rebounds/ loose balls.

[O_Gardino]

Haven't I been telling you guys that Royce is untouchable and we are about to go on a 10 game win streak? I'm pretty sure I said something on those subjects.

Great win. Always feels so good to beat LA, but especially with 3 key guys out. WOW

Honestly, the Lakers should be ashamed. JJ should bench Ayton. There just can't be a lack of accountability for those comments followed up by this game.

[wpmiller42]

I love games like this one because we see two guys in Oso and Rasheer that can be legit pieces for the future, while also starting to contribute now. There's so many "ifs" but if we can get that 6 seed, get healthy, and play the rockets first round? Honestly, I like our chances.

Then you look to next season and you have to hope that we've got a fully recovered Jalen Green, Oso gets some kind of consistent offense, maybe Dunn has a bounce-back season, continued development from Rasheer and Maluach, and maybe we're able to get creative with a trade or something? That could be a top 4 team in the West next year.

[Mori Chu]

I love games like this one because we see two guys in Oso and Rasheer that can be legit pieces for the future, while also starting to contribute now. There's so many "ifs" but if we can get that 6 seed, get healthy, and play the rockets first round? Honestly, I like our chances.

That's honestly the very best-case scenario for us as far as the playoffs go. I would love matching up against Houston for the 3-6. I hope we can get there. It would be a very tough series but I would much much prefer it vs trying to contain alien Wemby or facing the OKC juggernaut.

Then you look to next season and you have to hope that we've got a fully recovered Jalen Green, Oso gets some kind of consistent offense, maybe Dunn has a bounce-back season, continued development from Rasheer and Maluach, and maybe we're able to get creative with a trade or something? That could be a top 4 team in the West next year.

IMO the small bright spots of this tough injured stretch are that we can give Green some games to get back to 100% and that we can play some of the youngs like Fleming some real minutes. But oof these games are mostly really tough to watch. Hurry back, Book and Goodwin! (And Brooks, once the hand is better.) I hope we can get close to 100% for the playoff run.

[Split T]

I think we are likely losing any 1st round matchup, but I think I’d slightly prefer Minnesota. I still don’t like the matchup with Houston.

[LazarusLong]

One of the early great satisfactions of this team is that the Suns won the season series from the Lakers, the darlings of ESPN ...

[JJ Slim]

I think we are likely losing any 1st round matchup, but I think I’d slightly prefer Minnesota. I still don’t like the matchup with Houston.

I also wouldn't want the Durant vs Brooks/Green thing hanging over it either (unless we beat them).

[Superbone]

[bajanguy008]

I thought Grayson ran out of hangtime and traveled
I still keep looking at if his feet touched the ground first, it was really close and was surprised I saw nobody mention it

[Superbone]

I thought Grayson ran out of hangtime and traveled
I still keep looking at if his feet touched the ground first, it was really close and was surprised I saw nobody mention it

Shh.