Tag: Phoenix Suns

Pat Connaughton/Blake Wesley NBA Tracker: March 18-24

A couple of good games between the two this past week.

[autotag]Pat Connaughton[/autotag] had a couple of decent games this past week for the Milwaukee Bucks. It began March 20 when he scored seven points and five rebounds in a loss to the Boston Celtics, potentially an Eastern Conference finals preview. He was even better March 24 against the Oklahoma City Thunder with 11 points. It might have helped to have fellow Notre Dame legend and Milwaukee native [autotag]Arike Ogunbowale[/autotag] in attendance:

Whatever the case, Connaughton averaged 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists a game for the week.

[autotag]Blake Wesley[/autotag] grabbed four rebounds in the San Antonio Spurs’ March 19 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. His March 23 game against the Phoenix Suns might have been the best of his career. He scored 12 points to go with three assists, two steals and a block. Over the week, he had averages of 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds a game.

Photographers were on hand to catch Notre Dame’s NBA representation. Here is some of what they captured:

Blake Wesley details what Spurs should do in Suns rematch

San Antonio Spurs point guard Blake Wesley spoke about how they should adjust their defense against the Phoenix Suns.

On Saturday night, the San Antonio Spurs dropped their game against the Phoenix Suns in brutal fashion. The Suns picked up a 131-106 blowout win over the Spurs, flipping the script on the two sides’ early-season matchups, as San Antonio won two in a row against Phoenix at the very start of the season.

Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined to score 57 points as the Spurs were overwhelmed by the sheer talent on the Suns’ roster. Bradley Beal also poured in 13 points of his own. Phoenix shot a blistering-hot59.6% from the field and 45.8% from behind the three-point line. It was a poor defensive showing by the Spurs.

After the game, Spurs guard Blake Wesley spoke about the defensive adjustments his team should make in their Monday night rematch against Phoenix. (H/t Paul Garcia of Project Spurs)

“I feel like they got a lot of 3s up tonight, us scrambling, and they knocked down shots,” Wesley said. “If we contain them to more 2s, play the right way, defend, get out in transition, I feel like we’ve got a chance.”

The Suns, not known for their three-point arrack, shot 11-of-24 from behind the three-point line.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Devin Booker shows love to Victor Wembanyama after Spurs loss to Suns

After the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker showed love to Victor Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs played their sixth home game in a row on Saturday night, welcoming the Phoenix Suns to the Frost Bank Center. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to recreate the early-season magic that saw them take down the Suns two games in a row, as Phoenix picked up a 131-106 victory in San Antonio.

Since it was a complete blowout win for the Suns, Victor Wembanyama didn’t end up playing a ton, as he only totaled 20:53 in the game. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined to score 57 points, as the Suns’ offense proved to be way too much for the Spurs to deal with.

After the game, Booker showed love to Wembanyama. (H/t Paul Garcia of Project Spurs)

“Just a force,” Booker said of Wembanyama. “I think my favorite part about him is his mindset. Nowhere near soft. He’s a competitor to the highest. You can tell after games that losing bothers him, and it’s not something that he’s gotten used to. I’ve watched all his mannerisms and watch how he carries himself, and he seems like a seasoned vet.”

Wembanyama is only 20 years old, but he already has the respect of a ton of stars around the league.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Gregg Popovich gifted Kevin Durant, Devin Booker wine after Spurs-Suns

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich gifted bottles of wine to Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.

The San Antonio Spurs hosted the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night for the two team’s third meeting of the season. The Spurs got the best of the Suns twice in a row early on in the year, but since then, the two sides have had very different seasons. Phoenix got the best of San Antonio on Saturday, winning in blowout fashion by a score of 131-106.

After the game, head coach Gregg Popovich had some high praise for the Suns’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. He said that it’s tough to stop them when they’re all rolling. But that’s not the only thing he gave to two of them.

Popovich also gifted Durant and Booker, both of whom he coached on Team USA, bottles of wine after the game, per a post from Duane Rankin of AZ Central. (H/t Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report)

“We talked after the game. He left me a nice bottle of wine,” Booker said. “I know we drank one together after we won gold. We have some incredible memories even though it was a short amount of time in Japan.”

Popovich’s impact on the NBA stretches far beyond the Spurs organization.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Gregg Popovich reflects on Spurs’ early-season wins over Suns

After their loss to the Phoenix Suns, Gregg Popovich spoke about the San Antonio Spurs’ early-season wins over the Suns.

Before the San Antonio Spurs plummetted down to the bottom of the Western Conference standings, there was some hope that they could make a push to be a Play-In team. The Spurs won three of their first five games, including two straight wins over the Phoenix Suns, the first of which came in clutch fashion.

On Saturday night, the Spurs played their third of four games against the Suns this season. Unfortunately, this time around, the Spurs couldn’t get the job done, as the trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal was too much for them to handle. The Suns picked up a 131-106 win.

After the game, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged his team’s early-season wins over the Suns as “warm-ups” for Phoenix. (H/t Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News)

“That was like a preseason, warm-up, try-to-break-a-sweat for them,” Popovich said.

The Spurs have been playing much better basketball as of late, but it wasn’t enough on Saturday.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Gregg Popovish praises Suns star trio after Spurs loss

After the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Phoenix Suns, Gregg Popovich praised Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.

The San Antonio Spurs welcomed the Phoenix Suns to town on Saturday night for their sixth home game in a row in the midst of a seven-game homestand. They were hoping to snap a two-game losing streak against a Suns squad whom they had already beaten twice this year – in back-to-back games at the very start of the season.

Unfortunately, this time around didn’t yield the same results. The Spurs lost to the Suns by a score of 131-106, as the Suns’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal showed out. They were too much for the Spurs to handle.

After the game, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich showed love to the trio of stars. (H/t ESPN)

“I thought we had a little more contact and physicality in the second half, but you’re not going to stop Book and K.D. from doing what they’re doing and Bradley’s healthy now,” Popovich said. “That’s a pretty tough trio. Our guys did everything they could, and you move on.”

Booker finished the game with 32 points, Durant had 25, and Beal had 13.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Former Celtics floor general Isaiah Thomas signs a 10-day deal with the Phoenix Suns

Thomas is back in the NBA after a long time on the outside looking in.

Former Boston Celtics All-Star floor general Isaiah Thomas is back in the NBA after a long time on the outside looking in. The onetime King In the Fourth is reportedly inking a deal to join a Western Conference contender, according to recent reporting from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

“IT is back: 11-year vet and two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas is planning to sign a 10-day contract with the Phoenix Suns,” writes Charania of Thomas, who has been playing with the Utah Jazz’ G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, as he pushed to earn such an opportunity with a team that would give him some floor time.

“Thomas averaged 33 points on 45% 3-point shooting for Salt Lake City in the NBA G League, scoring 30 in 4 games,” adds The Athletic reporter.

“Thomas totaled performances of 32, 30, 34 and 34 points in his four G League games for Salt Lake City, making 25 of 56 3-pointers, and now is set to provide shooting, playoff experience and veteran leadership to the Suns.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen on why the Boston Celtics are so hard to beat

“They just know the numbers and just beat us at math,” said Durant.

The Phoenix Suns know excellence when they see it, and they were not shy about admitting why it was so tough to play the Boston Celtics after their 127-112 loss to Boston at TD Garden this past Thursday night. “You’ve got a center making 5 to 6 3s, that’s tough to stop,” suggested star forward Kevin Durant postgame via AZ Central’s Duane Rankin.

“They just know the numbers and just beat us at math,” added Durant. Teammate Grayson Allen did not disagree, saying, “They hit some tough, off the dribble ones, and they force you to press up in their (isolation) situations and their drive situations.”

“When you press up, they get to their drive and kick, and they have got 5 shooters out there,” he added.

The victory sealed a season sweep of the Suns for Boston, who actually beat Phoenix worse once star guard Devin Booker was back in the fold.

With the win, the Celtics became the first team in the league to guarantee a berth on the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Boston Celtics hit 25 3-pointers in win against Phoenix Suns

The Suns did not do better in their second and final meeting with the Celtics this season.

The first time the Phoenix Suns and the Boston Celtics collided this season, the Suns were without star guard Devin Booker. So when the two ball clubs linked up again to play a second tilt this season — this time at Boston’s home court of TD Garden — the hope for the Suns that it might go better.

Unfortunately for Phoenix fans and to the delight of Boston fans, it very much did not go better for the Suns. Instead, it saw the Celtics coming away with a season sweep of Phoenix and a 127-112 blowout that punched Boston’s ticket to the NBA’s 2024 Playoffs, the first team in the Association to do so.

NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Giles was joined by Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House on “Celtics Postgame Live” to talk over what they saw from Boston in the win.

And Abby Chin linked up for a short interview with Jrue Holiday. Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

On the Celtics lighting up the Suns 127-112 at TD Garden Thursday

The win punched their ticket to the NBA’s 2024 Playoffs, making the Celtics the first ball club in the league to garner that status.

The second time evidently was not the charm for the Phoenix Suns as they played the Boston Celtics for their final and second meeting in the NBA’s 2023-24 season. Fans of the Celtics are by no means upset over Boston picking up their 127-112 victory over the Suns at TD Garden this past Thursday night.

The win punched their ticket to the NBA’s 2024 Playoffs, making the Celtics the first ball club in the league to garner that status. The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast took some time to talk over the win and what it means for Boston on their most recent episode.

Check it out in the clip embedded below.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]