Everyone expected the Phoenix Suns to be a dominant force in the NBA after Bradley Beal joined Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the offseason. A problem related to their fourth quarter performance just shows how disappointing they have been throughout the season.
Just recently, the Denver Nuggets fell to Phoenix with a score of 117-107. In that game, Durant proved how talented he was by dropping 35 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, earning him a new nickname in the process. Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic had a big game by posting 25 points and 16 rebounds for Denver.
With Booker out, Grayson Allen stepped up for the Suns by notching 28 points and four assists. Meanwhile, Beal had 16 points and six rebounds for Phoenix.
This win placed the Suns in sixth place with a 36-26 record while the Nuggets still have the third seed with a standing of 42 wins and 20 losses. The former is battling to stay out of the Play-In Tournament while the latter is fighting to gain the top spot in the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns’ Major 4th Quarter Problem
Apart from the big win against Denver, the Suns’ late-game performance has been exposed. In a tweet posted by ClutchPoints on X:
“The Nuggets outscored the Suns by 9 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game up and send it to OT. Phoenix has now been outscored by 199 points in 4th quarters this season. It’s by far the worst mark in the NBA, with the Warriors as the second-worst at -85 in 4th quarters,” ClutchPoints tweeted.
Interestingly, both the Warriors and Suns aren’t considered as favorites to win the championship this year. This stat shows a lack of grit and determination on Phoenix’s part to close out games and get the win against their opponents.
It remains to be seen whether the Suns can improve to change this stat before the regular season ends. This can happen when Booker returns to the lineup as Phoenix races against time to get a better seed for the playoffs.
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