The Phoenix Suns have been extremely inconsistent this season as a basketball team, but they came through when it counted most in Sunday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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The victory, along with a New Orleans Pelicans defeat, propelled the Suns to sixth place in the Western Conference, allowing them nearly a week to recover while avoiding the play-in round.
Following the game, several Suns commented on their triumph.
(All quotes are given by the Timberwolves’ Media Relations department).
SUNS HEAD COACH, FRANK VOGEL
Regarding the team’s good start…
“Our guys are really motivated; there has been a lot of chatter over the last two days about not moving the ball well enough offensively against (the Sacramento Kings) the other night. Our squad scored 45 points in a half; we can score 45 points in a quarter, as we demonstrated in the first quarter tonight. We came in with some offensive swagger, but it was all about the defense; I don’t recall ever being a part of a team that caused 19 turnovers in one half. We were flying around, our gap activity was excellent, our coverage execution was flawless, and it’s a glimpse of what we look like when we’re at our peak.”
Regarding avoiding the Play-In Tournament.
“We’re excited; I mean, we wanted to finish in the top six.” We would have been confident in a Play-In game, but you eliminate the risk of a terrible shooting night, a rolled ankle, or something else changing the course of your season. We were determined to play all 82; it would take all 82. Ten games ago, we examined the quote-on-quote, ‘Hardest schedule in the league by far.’ We went 7-3 in ten straight games against top-six opponents. We also stated that the level of competition will sharpen us and help us achieve our best potential. “I believe you saw that in how we played today.”
SUNS FORWARD, KEVIN DURANT
Highlights of their success…
“Defensively, we forced a lot of turnovers, generated a transition, and we were able to keep our bodies in front of the ball, which was crucial. It got off to a good start, making shots, but our defense was the reason we were able to maintain what we did in the first quarter until the fourth. Teams may get hot and shoot eight threes, but I believe our defense was responsible for maintaining that lead. They reduced it to ten, and we simply kept pushing that lead back up. “It all depends on how we defend.”
Here’s how the league played out…
“That’s crazy. It’s a long season, and you have to play every game to the wire. Every game matters. Lottery game. Each team in this league believes they may have given up six or seven wins, which is a normal aspect of the NBA. It’s all part of the grind. But it was great that we were able to come here and have some influence over our destiny in the final game. I’m glad the Lakers came out and did their part, too.”
SUN GUARD DEVIN BOOKER
Here’s how the league played out…
“It’s unbelievable how everything worked out. Long season, as I keep saying, the play-in makes a lot of things interesting. I believe that moving ahead, everyone will value every game more, not just the final stretch. Those early-season losses, which you generally forget about, can come back to haunt you.”
During the first quarter…
“Everybody was connected and conversing. That’s what it comes down to for us. We know we’ll work things out on offense, and even though we can be sloppy at times, if we can hang our heads on defense and force turnovers like we did, we’ll be in very good condition.”
Phoenix will face the Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which begin on April 20.