Around the Suns - A Go On My Suns! blog - Week 8
- Matt Elvy
- Dec 16, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 17, 2025
Join us as we review the highs and lows of the last week, as well as previewing the week ahead.
Week 8: 8-14 December
Week Record: 1-2
Overall Record: 14-12. 7th in the Western Conference.
Games Played and Results:
W - 108 - 105 Vs Minnesota Timberwolves
L - 89 - 138 Vs OKC Thunder
L - 114 - 116 Vs LA Lakers
Centre of The Sun
Week 8 had a bit of everything for the Suns.
They once again beat the Timberwolves - I think we have their number on speed dial, got absolutely obliterated by the Thunder, then had the usual heated match-up with all 8 Lakers players.
Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle combined for 61 points, but the Wolves couldn't compete with the Suns hustle and whole team play. Every Suns starter scored in double digits, led by 22 points from Mark Williams. The Suns struggled at times from 3 and they weathered a comeback attempt in the final couple of minutes, but their play frustrated the Wolves so much, that Rudy Gobert decided to push Williams on a dunk attempt, getting himself ejected.
Our NBA Cup semi-final against OKC was a bit of a bloodbath. After playing them really well a week before, the Thunder were ready for the Suns and was able to lock us down with their physical play. Things got heated in this one as well (of course they did, it's this week's theme), after Chet Holmgren pushed Grayson to the ground on an offensive rebound, which the refs ignored. A couple of possessions later Grayson gave Holmgren a receipt, setting a very hard screen on him, while also pushing him to the ground. Grayson got ejected.
Booker was back in the line-up for our last game of the week, after leaving our previous game with the Lakers with a pulled groin.
Facing the Lakers is always going to get heated. The rivalry goes back years for these teams, as well as individual players going back to stints on other teams. Suns vs Dallas, Book vs Luka, Suns vs Ayton, and the big one, Brooks vs LeBron. There should have been a camera on League Pass just following Dillon and LeBron because they were going at each other all night. The problem with that and all those rivalry pieces, is that the refs were awful and as always were leaning heavily in the Lakers' favour.
The refs ruined this game. They lost control of Dillon and LeBron from the off, which trickled down to all players. The problem with all this is if you are going to let the players do this, you then can't randomly call the softest fouls ever seen, especially when you're only calling them for one team.
The Suns did have a big comeback, taking the lead in the final minute after being down by 20, but they made a couple of defensive mistakes, which ordinarily wouldn't get called but, with this group of officials and being the Lakers, they were called. The big example was Book hitting LeBron's hand, which by the rules is part of the ball, but the refs, even after Suns calling for a review, upheld their call. And that was the ball game.
Other Suns Stuff
O'Neale's Milestone
Against the Lakers Royce hit the 1,000th 3-pointer of his career.
He is just the 9th undrafted player in NBA history to reach that mark.
Another Successful G-League Appearance for Maluach
Superstar Watch (Season stats):
Devin Booker - 25.1 Points, 4.4 Rebounds, 6.7 Assists, 0.9 Steals, 45.5 FG%, 30.2 3PT FG% & 3.6 Turnovers
Ad Break:
For being a supporter of the account you get to benefit from a 10% discount at The Throwback Store. Click the links below to go to The Throwback Store and enter the code 'SUNSFANSUK' at checkout to apply the discount.
Scorching Suns:
Mark Williams
The way Mark plays he could be here every week, but he really made his presence felt against Minnesota and was key in the comeback attempt against LA.
Oh, and he now shoots 3's!
His stats for the week:
17.0 Points, 6.0 Rebounds, 1.7 Assists, 1.0 Steal, 1.0 Block, 75.0 FG% & 100 3PT FG%
Struggling Suns:
Grayson Allen
Still getting his eye in and feeling the focus of the opposing team's defence, with Booker still out, Grayson struggled to get his shot off throughout the week. He also found himself on the wrong end of the refs whistles in all 3 games.
His stats for the week:
11.7 Points, 2.0 Rebounds, 5.0 Assists, 2.0 Steals, 33.3 FG% & 20.0 3PT FG%
Stat Line(s) of the Week:
Mark Williams Vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Mark completely outplayed Ruby Gobert in this matchup. He frustrated Gobert so much that the Frenchman lashed out at him, getting himself ejected.
Mark even hit his first career 3-pointer. It was a deliberate shot within the flow of the offense and not just a hail Mary when the shot clock was low.
Game stat line:
22 Points, 7 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 2 Steals, 7/9 FGs (77.8%) & 1/1 3PT FGs (100%)
Rookie Watch (Season stats):
Khaman Maluach - 12 games, 0 starts
1.4 Points, 1.0 Rebounds, 0.2 Assists, 0.0 Steals, 0.3 Blocks, 38.5 FG%, 0.0 3PT FG% & 0.4 Turnovers
Rasheer Fleming - 13 games, 0 starts
Rasheer scored a career high 7 points while playing in garbage time against OKC, making a career high 3 baskets.
2.4 Points, 1.2 Rebounds, 0.2 Assists, 0.3 Steals, 0.2 Blocks, 34.4 FG%, 22.2 3PT FG% & 0.2 Turnovers
Koby Brea - 2 game
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 Suns get a good amount of rest this week and finally face a tam with a worse record than them, something that hasn't happened since facing the Kings on 26th November. That isn't to say that facing the Warriors is an easy task, but with Book back and surely feeling quite pissed off after the Lakers game, I think they'll come out guns blazing.
The Warriors are 4-6 over their last 10 games and despite Curry returning from injury and putting up monster numbers, they still lost their last 2 games.
Prediction:
I predict 2 wins for the Suns.
Predictions League:
Here are the league standings after week 8.
Follow us on X (formally Twitter), Instagram, BlueSky and Threads for all the latest Suns news.
🚨 You can also use the code 'SUNSFANSUK' on The Throwback Store to receive a 10% discount on any order you make 🚨
Comments