D-backs stay hot
Ariz. beats slumping Marlins
PHOENIX – Ketel Marte hit a go-ahead solo homer, Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker each added two hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks kept rolling with a 4-3 win over the slumping Miami Marlins on Monday night.
The Diamondbacks have won six of seven. The Marlins have dropped eight of nine and lead the majors in one-run losses with 10.
Marte broke a 3-all tie in the sixth when he smashed a 438-foot homer into the right-center seats. It’s been a tough start to the season for the 2019 All-Star, who came into the game hitting just .206 after signing a $76 million, five-year deal during spring training that will keep him with the team through 2027.
Marte – who plays second base – started a nifty double play to end the game, ranging far to his left for a grounder before jumping, turning and firing to Nick Ahmed at second, who relayed to first for the final out.
Arizona jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first in a back-and-forth start to the game. Walker drove a run-scoring double down the left-field line, and Josh
2019 to rebuild a franchise that had been among the worst in the NBA over the previous decade and quickly delivered, especially once 12-time AllStar point guard Chris Paul signed with the Suns in 2020.
Williams said bonding with his players and their families has been rewarding.
“It’s probably more important than everything that we do, from the X’s and O’s to the drills, to even playing games,” Williams said. “I’ve probably lost out on jobs because people thought I was more interested in the relationship piece than the competition piece. I think they both go hand in hand.”
Paul and fellow All-Star guard Devin Booker both posted on social media earlier Monday that Williams had won the award, even though no official announcement has been made.
Said Booker on Twitter: “Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams has been voted the NBA’s COY, book tells sources. A formal announcement is expected later today.”
Paul added: “WD WS… Congrats Coach Mont on Coach of the Year!!” The WD WS reference is a motto for the Suns, which means well done is better than well said.
Phoenix won a franchise-record 18 consecutive games from Oct. 30 to Dec. 2, including a 16-0 record in November. That was tied for the second-most wins in a month without a loss in NBA history, trailing Atlanta’s 17-0 record in January 2015.
Williams led the Suns to the NBA Finals last season, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. They are currently tied 2-2 with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals.
This is Williams’ second head coaching job in the NBA. He led the New Orleans Pelicans for five seasons from 2010 to 2015, making the playoffs twice, but was fired after being swept in the first round of the playoffs in 2015.
Paul played for Williams during part of his tenure in New Orleans. The two reunited in the desert and have had considerable success.
Both are still searching for a title, but have learned to enjoy the smaller victories along the way.
“We all want to win a championship, and yet there are some things we do along the way that you can try to enjoy to the best of your ability,” Williams said. “But you’re still focused on how you get there. It’s these opposing deals at times. You want to enjoy it, but you’re pounding the rock.”