Short-handed Suns fall in Atlanta
ATLANTA — The game wasn’t irrelevant.
It counts on the record — and Suns coach Monty Williams isn’t bypassing the details of their 116-107 loss to Atlanta starting with getting outrebounded, 59-35, as the Hawks gobbled up 20 offensive rebounds.
“That was the game,” Williams said. The Suns did do more than play a game Thursday before a sellout crowd of 17,003 at State Farm Arena, though.
They went through an emotional ride of losing Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, along with Jae Crowder, in a trade late Wednesday night, and Dario Saric in another one Thursday before the 1 p.m. trade deadline, but got superstar Kevin Durant, T.J. Warren, who began his career in Phoenix, and Darius Bazley in return.
Williams isn’t giving his players a pass, but he’s not beating them up over losing, either.
“After the day that we had, I just commended them on just staying with it,” Williams said.
Here are five takeaways from a crazy Thursday that ended with the Suns (30-27) losing for the ninth straight time to the Hawks in Atlanta (28-28). The Suns lost last week by 32 points to Atlanta at home.
Back-to-back
Williams had usual starters, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, in the game with under three minutes left with the Suns down 17 points and knowing they play Friday at Indiana in the second of a back-to-back.
Down 18 with 3:47 left in the third, the Suns cut that deficit down to nine with 7:40 left in the fourth.
“It’s like, let’s try to get it,” Williams said.
The Suns were still down nine with 5:36 left after Ayton’s jump hook of Paul’s assist, but Atlanta went on a 13-5 run to open the game back up, 11295 with 2:34 left.
Game over.
Short-handed
The Suns came into the game with just nine available players as they not only traded away Bridges, Johnson and Saric, but Devin Booker (groin injury management), Cameron Payne (foot) and Landry Shamet (foot) were
out while Warren, Durant and Bazley weren’t there.
The trades just became official Thursday evening. Plus, Durant isn’t expected to return from an MCL sprain until after the All-Star break.
Could see Warren and Bazley missing Friday’s game and seeing their first action for the Suns on Valentine’s Day against Oklahoma City. With Super Bowl LVII being Sunday in Glendale, Phoenix has three days between Friday’s game and Tuesday’s game.
The Suns could use that time to get Durant, Warren and Bazley settled. With Warren playing his first five seasons in Phoenix, he knows the city.
23 and 2 — and tears shed
Ayton was clearly hurt by seeing Bridges and Johnson traded — and for good reason.
He and Bridges came in together as rookies in 2018 and Johnson joined them the next year.
“Did a lot of crying already,” he said after the game. “Once I know my guys, the Twins are good. I’m back to business.”
The Suns were up to nearly 3 a.m. early Thursday in the hallway of the hotel talking.
Yes, it’s a business, but Ayton may have felt the loss of Johnson and Bridges more than anyone on the team.
It’s understandable if his head wasn’t completely in it, but he did score 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting.
But he only grabbed two rebounds in 30 minutes. This is after posting backto-back 30 and 15 games for his first two career games with those numbers.
Processing feelings is not easy, but as
Williams said after the game, Ayton gets “10 in his sleep.”
He should’ve gotten more than two.
Numbers
Leading scorers: Trae Young (Hawks) 36 points, Josh Okogie (Suns) 25 points (off the bench).
Season-high: Ish Wainright (Suns) 17 points.
Worst plus-minus: Damion (Suns) -22, Paul (Suns) -19.
Boardwork: Clink Capela (Hawks) 17 rebounds (eight offensive).
Biggest lead: Hawks 20, Suns 2.
Grade A trade
Lee
The Suns had to put Bridges in there to get Durant.
With the way he has been playing in recent weeks, Bridges became even more appetizing.
Losing Johnson and Bridges is huge. Giving up four first-round picks and a pick swap is major, too, but they didn’t give up a superstar for one of the greatest to ever do it who is averaging 29.7 this season.
That alone gives the trade an A grade, but it’s also a win-now trade.
Win it all now or not only be left wondering why you came up short with Durant, but be without draft picks that could be used to either get young talent or trade for talent.
Ayton applauded new team owner Mat Ishbia, and president of basketball operations James Jones for making this happen. Now there’s only one thing left for the Suns to do.
“We’ve got to finish the said.