Wow, what a crazy turn of events on this Saturday afternoon. A game that was supposed to end early ended up being three hours long with two overtime periods and three buzzer beaters for the Phoenix Suns. They ended up beating the Orlando Magic 113-110 after a game-winning three from Jalen Green.
That being said, this game was not all sunshine and rainbows, as the Suns struggled on offense without Devin Booker leading the charge. With Dillon Brooks and Jordan Goodwin also getting hurt and not returning in this contest, it really put the game in the hands of Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, and Grayson Allen.
For the Magic, they were an all-out threat in the beginning, being led by Desmond Bane, who could not miss for the first quarter. He eventually fouled out, leading to Paolo Banchero and Jevon Carter trying to save the day on the road, but it was just not enough. Even with his shooting struggles today, Jalen Green made two big shots in double OT when it mattered most, and that was enough to secure a much-needed win for the Suns.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns fans sadly opened up this game on their feet for a couple of minutes, awaiting a basket, until Dillon Brooks drained a three-pointer. This then led them down 9-3 early, as Tristan Da Silva matched Brooks’ points. Orlando’s offense started hot, getting to the basket, with Desmond Bane taking command. Phoenix, on the other hand, could not buy a bucket for the first six minutes of the game.
Threes were not falling, and at one point, they were 4/16 from the field. Added to that, Dillon Brooks unfortunately hurt his hand and then went back to the locker room.
With him out, though, Jordan Goodwin made some big rebounds and helped raise the defensive tenacity. This led the Suns to climb back into the game, even though they were down by double digits at one point.
Even with this, though, Bane was just on a tear and shot a perfect 5/5 from the field in the quarter and finished with 14 points. This allowed them to take a 25-21 lead into the quarter break.
To start the second quarter, the Suns were rusty, but then they completely silenced that downhill experience. After a Jevon Carter three-pointer to make it an eight-point game, the Suns registered seven straight points and made it a one-point game.
That is where Bane started to get the ball back from Orlando and continue his heater, but Collin Gillespie was ready to match that. Gillespie took the lead back for the Suns after scoring five straight and scoring from all three levels.
That is where the game plan switched for both teams, as Phoenix dominated the paint in the first quarter. Now, Orlando was showing they could match those points, as Paolo Banchero and Jevon Carter started finding ways to attack the Suns’ basket. This blew the lead back to double digits, as the former fan favorite Jevon Carter proved the Bulls wrong for waiving him.
Before the close of the first half, though, Grayson Allen snuck in a buzzer-beater layup to drop the Magic’s lead to eight, 51-43.
Second Half
Unfortunately for the Suns, they had to play the rest of this game without Dillon Brooks.
The third quarter started with Orlando still playing through their hot hand in Bane, who hit another three. That said, the Suns went on an 11-0 run to tie the game. Mark Williams finally started getting involved in the offense, scoring back-to-back baskets in the paint. Add that with a three from O’Neale and Gillespie, and the Magic are forced to take a timeout.
Out of that timeout, the Suns took the lead back with a nice three from Green. That is where their offense started delivering with Williams once again. The stellar Suns’ defense continued as well to keep them alive, forcing some big turnovers. The Magic did try to match by going inside with their own bigs, Goga Bitadze and Mo Wagner. That was not enough, though, for one Sun who made his presence known.
Jordan Goodwin also made himself a major X-factor in this quarter on both ends. With two steals already and hitting a buzzer-beater three, the Suns now lead the Magic by four, 77-73, heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, the Suns returned to what had been their strength: scoring inside. With Oso Ighodaro having a great night, he attacked Mo Wagner and got some offense going for the Suns. Not only was he solid on the glass, but he was solid on the glass.
The Suns continued to press on the gas pedal and expand this lead. Even with Carter and Bane trying to score, it is not enough with the team basketball taking place. Gillespie and Goodwin have a combined 36 points, shooting 6/10 from three-point range, and continue to deliver on offense.
That being said, as we know, the Suns will always be in a close one, as the Magic scored six straight points, forcing the Suns to take a timeout. With them struggling from three, the Magic were able to take that eleven-point lead down to three. The Suns also lost Jordan Goodwin. He appeared to be grabbing his calf and ran into the locker room.
With a tough offense stretch for Phoenix in the fourth, the Magic tied the game up at 96 from a dunk by Anthony Black. The Suns, who were prioritizing making some threes late, missed the game-winner in regulation. Collin Gillespie, who tried to get the Suns their third buzzer-beater tonight, was unfortunately unsuccessful in that regard.
OT
To kick off OT, the Suns got a blessing with a big steal from Jalen Green that led to Desmond Bane fouling out of the game. Sadly, Green missed both free throws, and on the other end, Wendell Carter Jr. converted a three-point play to take the lead. With no Bane, the Magic ran their offense through Banchero, who was effective for them. The Suns, though, had Grayson Allen, who scored seven straight to take the lead back with a minute left. Of course, though, Banchero tied it back up, and after a nice try from Mark Williams to tie the game, it now heads to double overtime.
Double OT
With both teams hungrier than ever, to secure this win, the physicality on the defensive end continues to intensify. After missing a pair of free throws, Jalen Green splits his next pair, but once again, Banchero makes another shot to take the lead. That said, the Suns had Grayson Allen continue to come up big, making another shot to take the lead. With the Suns attacking the basket, they forced Wendell Carter Jr. to foul out, just as Bane did. Green once again then split his pair of free throws.
Since the Suns forced multiple steals late in the game, they limited the Magic’s shot attempts, helping address their struggle to score late. Multiple times, both teams have gone silent on offense for consecutive minutes, making this dogfight keep dragging on. The physicality on the defensive end is also very prevalent right now.
With the Suns up three, Isaac missed two free throws, but then Jevon Carter tied it up. That was all until the man who needed it most, Jalen Green, hit the third buzzer-beater for the Suns and won the game 113-110.
Up Next
The Suns gear up for another home game tomorrow, taking on the Portland Trail Blazers in a fun back-to-back homestand. The team will need some much-needed rest after this long duel with the Orlando Magic.