The Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Phoenix Suns 128-103, in a lopsided victory even without their star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined with a quad injury. This win completed a season sweep for OKC against Phoenix, who were practically healthy with Jusuf Nurkic returning from a minor ankle sprain.
Nurkic’s return wasn’t impactful, as he struggled throughout the game. Meanwhile, Kevin Durant, a former Thunder player for eight seasons, led the Suns in scoring with 26 points, but couldn’t overcome a strong Oklahoma City performance. The Thunder dominated from three-point range and in the paint, exposing weaknesses in Phoenix’s defense.
This win by OKC, missing their best scorer, raises concerns for the Suns. Phoenix has a tough remaining schedule and faces the possibility of meeting the Thunder again in the first round of the playoffs.
The Suns’ inconsistency is a major concern. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance with wins against San Antonio and Denver, but have also suffered puzzling losses to the same Spurs team and now to OKC without their star player.
Phoenix needs to find its focus and improve its defensive effort, particularly against the three-point line and in the paint. Their Big 3 of Booker, Durant, and Beal needs to consistently perform at a high level.
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Despite the rough patch, the Suns are still in contention for a good playoff position. They have a chance to climb to the sixth seed, but it will require a strong finish against a difficult schedule. More importantly, they need to figure out how to play with consistent energy and urgency to make a deep playoff run.
