Game Day: Suns (12-7) @ Thunder (18-1), Fri 11/28/25

[ShelC]

Someone else said it- not big on moral victories but I'll take this one. We hung right there with OKC and answered every run or big 3 they hit. Last year's team would've checked out in the 2nd qtr. Frustrating that they hit so many 3s despite us playing really good defense. Both teams made 15 3s but it felt like they made twice as many. Boxscore was close but a few things stood out - we outrebounded them by 14 and crushed them on the offensive glass so we were able to advantage of their lack of size. Turnovers hurt us tho and that's where the game was won. You can't overdribble against this team otherwise it's pretty much a guaranteed turnover and CG, Book and Brooks are all guilty of that. You have to play fast and keep the ball moving.

And while people are down on Book (and I hate feeling like I have to defend him after every game), let's be honest and look at who he's on the court with. We've been playing well and guys are contributing but his supporting cast on the perimeter is Brooks, Gillespie, Royce, and Goodwin. Bouyea was in the GLeague last week. I don't mean to shit on those guys because they've played well above expectations but none of them are the threats Jalen Green and Allen are shooting and scoring. Gillespie's been great but even he had a tough time with OKC's pressure size/length on the perimeter. And as good as Mark Williams has been, he's not an offensive threat. Teams will gladly double or triple Book and let CG, Brooks and Royce beat them. I'd also love to see the day when Book gets half the whistle SGA does.

I hate to play the injury game but if we had one of Green or Allen, we probably win this game. A few more 3s or having Green as a dribble drive threat would've made a huge difference while Chet was on the bench. So even tho we took the L, we should feel OK with how we matched up and had a few chances to win it at the end.

It would've been nice to get the victory because of the B2B with Denver tonight. Hopefully we have something left in the tank.

[pickle]

Is Williams playing this one?

[pickle]

I also don’t think NHD played that poorly. He didn’t hit his open shot but he was a factor on defense and rebounding.

[ShelC]

Postgame Quotes and Videos

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[Superbone]

Thanks, @ShelC! I was having withdrawals not having your postgame thread even in a loss.

[Superbone]

I don't know if anybody else heard this during the broadcast last night but they said something about the 19-1 Thunder having had an historically low first 20 game strength of schedule.

[Mori Chu]

I don't know if anybody else heard this during the broadcast last night but they said something about the 19-1 Thunder having had an historically low first 20 game strength of schedule.

Yeah, I read that the Suns and OKC have the two toughest strengths-of-schedule for the rest of the season. Gulp.

[Mori Chu]

I also don’t think NHD played that poorly. He didn’t hit his open shot but he was a factor on defense and rebounding.

I guess so. I think I would just rather give those minutes to Fleming at this point, or even Livers. I don't think NHD is a part of this team going forward, so I am ready to move on. Seems like a nice guy and has a nice story, but if it isn't working, it isn't working.

[Superbone]

I also don’t think NHD played that poorly. He didn’t hit his open shot but he was a factor on defense and rebounding.

I guess so. I think I would just rather give those minutes to Fleming at this point, or even Livers. I don't think NHD is a part of this team going forward, so I am ready to move on. Seems like a nice guy and has a nice story, but if it isn't working, it isn't working.

Neither Livers nor Fleming were available last night. Next man up.

[Wally_West]

Our prize is playing at OKC haha

Yeah. This is a big flaw in the IST.

They’re due for a loss at some point dammit. Maybe have Grayson and Dunn back for that game too.

[ShelC]

Thanks, @ShelC! I was having withdrawals not having your postgame thread even in a loss.

Ha, I've been waiting a few hours now because Rankin uploads more videos later in the morning and I hate going back and editing that post.

[JJ Slim]

Echoing ShelC about the moral victories I normally don't put much into them BUT they played the Thunder so well and with a little more taking care of the ball this would have been a win. Even when the Thunder went on runs it seemed like they were short lived and the Suns came right back. The Thunder just couldn't shake them and it could have gone either way. I know for a fact that the Thunder fans had their buttholes puckering several times especially at the end and when Colin made that steal. And this was all done with some of our best players out injured. They had a few out injured too but not 2 or 3 starters like we had. They should be damn proud of what they have accomplished so far. Also I think that these injuries have been a blessing in disguise allowing us to solidify our bench depth which we have been sorely lacking in the last couple years.