Around the Suns - A Go On My Suns! blog - Week 13
- Matt Elvy
- Jan 19
- 5 min read
Join us as we review the highs and lows of the last week, as well as previewing the week ahead.
Week 13: 12-18 January
Week Record: 1-2
Overall Record: 25-17. 7th in the Western Conference.
Games Played and Results:
L - 121 - 127 Vs Miami Heat
L - 105 - 108 Vs Detroit Pistons
W - 106 - 99 Vs New York Knicks
Centre of The Sun
The longest road trip of the season has started off a bit rough.
The Suns got outworked by the Heat throughout most of the game and we got ourselves into a 20-point hole. As to be expected by this team, we fought all the way back to take a 5-point lead in the 4th quarter, but it wasn't enough.
Bam Adebayo decided to have his best 3-point shooting night of the season on his way to 29 points, his first 20+ point since mid-December. He and Powell took over in the closing minutes of the game.
The biggest news for us is that Book left the game with a twisted ankle. He rejoined the game and finished playing 39 minutes and scoring 24 points.
Book's ankle kept him out of the Pistons game, which you know would have hurt, as Michigan is his home state. He usually plays very well in Detroit, and looking at the way we played, we'd have won had played.
With Book out, Grayson joined the starting line-up and immediately became our number 1 option and he was hot to start the game.
In the first quarter alone he had 13 points, 3 3-pointers, 4 rebounds and 3 blocks. He would finish with 33 points. More one Grayson's night below.
Collin added 18 points, with 4 3-pointers. It was the first time he's scored 15+ points since 2nd January.
Book was back in the line-up for our Knicks game in Madison Square Garden and with Brunson out we had an advantage. Even without him, they're still a very good team and they held a 10-point lead mid-way through the 3rd quarter. The Suns, however would go on a 13-0 run to take a 3-point lead to begin the 4th.
The Suns would target KAT a lot down the stretch and use their high pressure defence to put them away.
I thought Goodwin was excellent in this game. Every time he came onto the floor he exposed the Knicks guards with his defence. He also recaptured his shooting stroke, hitting 2 threes.
And here's the highlight play of our 4th quarter run to get the win.
Other Suns Stuff
Jalen Green Returning
The Suns posted on Social Media that Jalen is "Questionable" for the Nets game.
Looking back to when they've done this in the past for Book, he's always ended up playing, so we are finally getting Jalen back!
Book Climbing the Points Ladder
Against the Knicks, Book passed Steve Nash on the NBA all-time scoring list! It means that Book took the 100th spot from Nash, who now sits at 101.
Nash at Spurs
If you've been living under a rock for years, you may have missed that Steve Nash is a huge football (soccer) fan.
What you may not have known is that he is a Tottenham fan! With the NBA in London this past weekend, he along visited Spurs for their loss to West Ham.
Here are some 41 game stats:
Mark Williams' Efficiency
Mark is officially the most efficient player in Suns history through their first 41 games with the team, boasting a field goal percentage of 65%.
Making NBA History
The Suns are the first team in NBA history to have over 575 3-pointers and over 400 steals through 41 games.
3 Up, 3 Down
Royce O'Neale (120 made) and Collin Gillespie (118 made) are number 1&2 for the most 3's through 41 games in Suns history.
Superstar Watch (Season stats):
Devin Booker - 25.3 Points, 4.1 Rebounds, 6.4 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 45.2 FG%, 30.1 3PT FG% & 3.3 Turnovers
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Scorching Suns:
Collin Gillespie
Ol' reliable is back! After a couple of weeks of struggling from the floor, Collin had double figures in points and hit 2+ threes in every game last week.
His stats for the week:
14.0 Points, 3.3 Rebounds, 4.3 Assists, 1.7 Steals, 50.0 FG% & 50.0 3PT FG%
Struggling Suns:
Dillon Brooks
Dillon's shot just did not want to go through the hoop this week. Yes, there were a few questionable shots, at best, but even his signature mid-range shots betrayed him this week. He still produced 15 points per game, but that came on huge volume and 5 points below his season average.
His stats for the week:
15.3 Points, 3.7 Rebounds, 0.7 Assists, 0.7 Steals, 32.1 FG% & 17.4 3PT FG%
Stat Line(s) of the Week:
Grayson Allen Vs Detroit Pistons
Grayson's spot here is less about his final stat line (as he had to throw up some silly 3's at the end of the game), but more what he achieved.
He is the first player in Suns history with 3+ threes and 3+ blocks in a quarter
He is just the sixth player in the play-by-play era history to have 5+ threes and 3+ blocks in a half. (The play-by-play ere is since 1996-97 season according to Google AI).
20 3-point attempts in a single game is a Suns record. The previous record is 17 held by himself, Quentin Richardson and Landry Shamet (according to StatMuse).
Game stat line:
33 Points, 5 Rebounds, 3 Blocks, 11/25 FGs (44.0%) & 7/20 3PT FGs (35.0%)
Jordan Goodwin Vs New York Knicks
Game stat line:
13 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals, 3/4 FGs (75.0%) & 2/2 3PT FGs (100%)
Rookie Watch (Season stats):
Khaman Maluach - 18 games, 0 starts
1.3 Points, 1.0 Rebounds, 0.2 Assists, 0.1 Steals, 0.4 Blocks, 40.0 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% & 0.5 Turnovers
Rasheer Fleming - 24 games, 0 starts
2.6 Points, 1.3 Rebounds, 0.2 Assists, 0.3 Steals, 0.3 Blocks, 35.8 FG%, 21.1 3PT FG% & 0.2 Turnovers
Koby Brea - 2 games
2.0 Points, 0.5 Rebounds, 1.0 Assists, 0.0 Steals, 0.0 Blocks, 33.3 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% & 0.0 Turnovers
Upcoming Games:
The road trip continues and this week starts with our easiest game against the Nets.
It gets tougher with the 76ers and Hawks, before heading home to face the Heat again.
However, it looks like Jalen Green will be back this week, so that'll be a huge spark for us.
Prediction:
I think we will win in Brooklyn, lose to the 76ers, then beat the Hawks and Heat.
Predictions League:
Here are the league standings after week 13.
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