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Phoenix Suns goalie Devin Booker moves around Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first half of an NBA basketball game on Monday, February 8, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo / Matt York)
PHOENIX – It was wacky that the NBA’s worst offensive team heading into Monday night had soared in the mid-1950s in field goal percentage for most of the game and racked up 113 points on the fifth-best team league defense.
The Phoenix Suns, the aforementioned strong defensive team, likely exacerbated that chance, starting a home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the offensively loaded team, with just 10 active players. Five rotation players, including starting point goalie Chris Paul (hamstring), were absent for Phoenix.
The Suns (14-9) were therefore happy to clinch a 119-113 victory over a sneaky competitive Cavaliers team.
Head coach Monty Williams mentioned before the game that without Paul he would be sailing somewhat blindly. When the Cavs (10-15) threw a pre-game curveball by announcing a new starting lineup with crosses Andre Drummond and Jarrett Allen, it added to the rotational brew.
Williams later admitted that it forced him to change roster late by hooking up Frank Kaminsky as the Suns planned Cleveland to grow small.
The on-the-fly adjustment continued into the game, and it started with Booker taking a leading role in the game, with E’Twaun Moore starting in place of Paul.
“You have to make adjustments,” Booker said. “I wanted to take on that role of facilitator, always find places to be aggressive, but make sure you involve everyone like Chris does when he is.
The results were pretty good for Phoenix, who had a season-high 36 points, from Booker, who added eight dimes.
He had a collection of help.
The Suns had two three-pointers in the fourth quarter from Cam Johnson after missing his first six attempts. Deandre Ayton added eight offensive boards, Mikal Bridges scored 22 points and Moore played 40 minutes. He finished with 17 points, four assists, two interceptions and one block.
Phoenix needed it all.
“… I probably called more games tonight than what I had to call this year because Chris wasn’t on the ground, and mostly because I was just trying to help Book and E’Twaun get better. handle the game, ”Williams said.
“But our secondary car attack helped us build movement tonight. When you don’t have Chris on the floor, you lack a lot of experience on both sides of the floor… that’s the Hall of Fame. I don’t need to explain it. I just thought our guys did a great corporate job stepping in for all the guys tonight.
Among the few things you could expect before dark, the Suns’ best healthy player knew he had to carry a heavier load than usual.
Booker attacked rookie wing Isaac Okoro early on. The Suns’ top scorer got a hoop on a bank drive, then beat Okoro on a back-cut and again behind a screen for three on a timeout.
Cleveland went into an area briefly, but Booker topped his first quarter by 17 points by waving a screen when rookie Dylan Windler faced him on a cross switch in transition. Booker found a mid-range pull-up with ease.
Williams loved that Booker didn’t go hunting for games as much as he could, at least not in the first half.
By the time Booker returned with the Suns 54-44 midway through the second quarter, Bridges had almost tied him with 14 points on 6 of 7 shots at this point. He finished with 22 of 8 of 10 shots.
Offensive ease was not just a Booker and Bridges business.
Neither team played particularly effective defense for most of the game. The Suns and Cavaliers combined for only 20 turnovers and shot between 51% and 52%. The Suns won a close – and bulky – battle in points in the paint, 60-58.
Phoenix in the first half hit 60% from the field. The problem for the Suns was that the Cavaliers’ backcourt of Collin Sexton and Darius Garland easily came to their places as they worked off-screen from the starting double-center lineup.
The guards continually got into the lane for the floats before Phoenix adjusted, but the duo then started throwing lobs on their athletic rollers. At the end of the game, Sexton and Garland combined for 40 points and 12 assists.
“These two guys are bulldogs,” Williams said. “The (Cavs) keep coming to you.
“They scored 22 points in the fourth. It’s been a statement quarter for me with all the guys we had out of the game for me.
Booker’s 10 points in the fourth quarter, including a three bailout fadeaway, were also helpful.
Ayton, who held firm against the Cavs center duo, finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. He credited his teammates’ communication for the cohesion of the defense down the home stretch, as Cleveland shot 38% in the fourth quarter.
“We blocked the covers that the coach adjusted during the game,” said Ayton, adding that injured players like Paul, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric and Cam Payne made sure active players knew their covers during breaks. .
“All this communication is crazy, and I love it.”
But that communication doesn’t matter if a team of five rotating players lacks talent. For Booker, the landslide victory over the Cavaliers – who incidentally boasted the 11th best defense in the NBA before Monday – should also be credited at the front office.
“It’s one thing, even though we had a short offseason when this team was put together, (GM) James Jones, at the start of week one I was like, ‘Dude, we’re deep. We’re strong all the way, ”Booker said. “There may be games where very talented players cannot play.”
Booker then moved on to a phrase he likes to use to describe Moore, who ended up leading the team during his 40 minutes of play.
“Everyone knows, man, your opportunity is going to come,” Booker said. “Stay ready so you won’t be ready.”
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