During the final 5 minutes and 11 seconds of the game, Phoenix outscored Sacramento 23-5.
The Phoenix Suns have been facing challenges in the closing quarters of their games this season. Despite having three standout players renowned for their late-game shot-making, the team holds the NBA’s lowest fourth-quarter net rating at -16.7. In a recent matchup against the Sacramento Kings, the Suns found themselves behind 109-87 with slightly over eight minutes remaining on the clock. At this juncture, it may have seemed tempting to switch off the TV, assuming the game was already decided.
The Suns were facing a big deficit, but they staged a comeback. With around 5 minutes left, coach Frank Vogel made a key move by substituting Eric Gordon for Josh Okogie. This choice prioritized a lineup with better shooters, sacrificing a strong defender. The new lineup, featuring Gordon, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Grayson Allen, scored 23 points while limiting the Kings to just 5 in the final 311 seconds. This strategic decision played a crucial role in the Suns securing a comeback victory.
The Suns’ comeback
The Suns’ comeback was extraordinary. They achieved something very unusual, becoming only the second team in the last 25 years to recover from a deficit of 20 points or more in the final eight minutes of a game. The Sacramento Kings in the 2019-20 season were the only other team to accomplish this recently. Teams trailing by 22 points or more in the fourth quarter hadn’t won any of the 1,244 games played since August 23, 2020, until this moment. The Suns changed that trend and secured a victory. This significant turnaround was due in part to Coach Vogel employing a strategy he hadn’t used much earlier in the season.
Players Lineup
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, the lineup of Durant, Booker, Beal, Allen, and Gordon had only shared the court for a brief period this season—accumulating a total of five minutes and 14 possessions. Injuries played a role in their limited playing time, although Beal has been back in action for a few weeks now. This group doesn’t perfectly align with Coach Vogel’s usual emphasis on defense. Durant, typically a forward, isn’t a common center due to his slender build, and he seldom plays in that position. Booker, often playing as a guard, stands out as the second-tallest player in this lineup at 6-6, while the other three are listed at 6-4.
Although this lineup seems strong on defense, it might not be obvious at first. Durant is known for his ability to help out and protect the rim when necessary. Gordon, being strong with a low center of gravity, has a history of defending against larger players. The advantage of having players of similar size is their ability to smoothly switch positions on defense, making it challenging for the opposing team to find an advantage. While they may not allow many points in a short time, defense isn’t the primary focus for this group.
Gordon and Allen skills
Gordon and Allen bring valuable skills to the Suns’ team. When they join the three star players, it creates a unique spacing on the court that many NBA teams don’t have. This is particularly important, especially in the playoffs, where teams like the Suns might face opponents with defenders similar to Sabonis who could struggle against this lineup. While the Suns may not completely stop their opponents, those opponents won’t easily stop the Suns either. It doesn’t seem wise to bet against Durant, Booker, and Beal in a scoring battle.
Even though playing this way for the entire game might not be practical for the Suns, using the small-ball style brings out their best performance. We witnessed how effective this strategy can be for the Suns in just five minutes and 11 seconds on Tuesday when the Gordon-Allen-Durant-Booker-Beal lineup turned things around in the fourth quarter. With a bit more experience over the next few months, this lineup could become even more formidable.