Game Recap: Suns’ playoff hopes vanish in loss to Thunder, 125-112

The Phoenix Suns’ playoff hopes are officially dead.

The Suns are officially eliminated from the playoffs/play-in. Rest in peace to the 2024-25 Phoenix Suns. Make that eight straight losses.

The Phoenix Suns looked good early, only to fade away to the superior team. OKC was shorthanded and had nothing to play for, yet they still showed more heart than a Suns team with their backs against the wall.

Phoenix is now 35-45, and despite Dallas losing to the Lakers tonight, the math is finally against them. The Play-In longshot is over.

Top Performers

• Devin Booker — 20 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds, 9-20 FG
• Bradley Beal — 25 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 12-17 FG
• Chet Holmgren — 22 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 5-12 FG
• Jalen Williams — 33 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-17 FG

The Thunder sat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lou Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein in this one, while Phoenix was without Nick Richards and Kevin Durant.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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First Half

The Suns got out to an 8-4 lead in the early going, with four of the five starters getting a bucket in the opening minutes.

The energy was a little bit better compared to last night, but that’s not saying much. Part of it was probably due to the lack of incentive for OKC to play hard in this one.

Phoenix’s offense was clicking, shooting 10 of 13 from the paint in the opening 11 minutes to go along with 11 assists. They extended their lead to 10 at 34-24 with just over a minute remaining in the quarter.

Collin Gillespie answered Jaylin Williams’ triple with one of his own as the time winded down in the opening quarter.

After the first quarter, the Suns led 39-29, powered by 11 points from Devin Booker.

Phoenix didn’t let up in the second quarter, continuing to fight and show a sense of urgency that had not existed all season long.

Yes, the obvious disclaimer here is that several key members of the Thunder were out. But still, it was a change of pace from what we’ve seen lately.

At the half, Phoenix led by five, 67-62. Beal led the Suns with 14 points, while Booker chipped in with 11, though he did not score in the second quarter.

2nd Half

The early moments of the second half saw the momentum shift back in the Thunder’s favor. Oklahoma City scored the opening 8 points in the quarter to erase their deficit and retake the lead, 70-67.

A 14-2 run from the Thunder put the Suns back in their place, spearheaded by tenacious defense from Alex Caruso.

Phoenix turned it over six (6!) times in the opening four minutes of play in the 3rd quarter.

Bradley Beal turned it up a notch, pouring in points in a flurry to keep the Suns within striking distance.

The third quarter woes continued, though, as it was ultimately too much Thunder. OKC scored 43 points in the third quarter and ballooned their lead to 12 points, 105-93.

The fourth quarter, you ask? I will do my best Suns impression and check out. No effort will be put in recapping what happened in the final 12 minutes.

They slept through that one too, as the Thunder outscored them 20-19 to seal the deal. Phoenix led by as many as 15 points and trailed by as many as 20. It just felt like every other game this season.

We only have to do this two more times. Hang in there.

Up Next?

The Suns will host the San Antonio Spurs in their home finale on Friday night in downtown Phoenix.

Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

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