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The Phoenix Suns had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter but quickly gave it up on four consecutive three-pointers by the Bucks and never were able to regain traction.
The Suns took a 95-93 lead in the final minute, but consecutive Bledsoe turnovers answered by Bucks scores ended the game in depressing fashion for Suns fans.
The Bucks closed with free throws, and that was it.
Bucks win 101-95.
This is only the third Bucks road win of the season, and their first against a Western Conference opponent.
First quarter
The Suns opened with consecutive back court steals, but Bledsoe blew a layup before Brandon Knight made the second. The Suns came out strong, but couldn't close the deal on a couple of possessions and then gave up consecutive backdoor cuts for a point blank shot.
Brandon Knight's first jumper was an airball against his former team, I worry I had coming in. I hope he remains aggressive and works out the jitters. But he nearly airballed his second jumper too.
The Bucks went on a 9-0 run made up entirely of layups, dunks and free throws. Then they got bold and made some jumpers and the Suns were suddenly down 21-11. Their last made field goal was after a fumble out of bounds by Markieff Morris, who then got into a shouting match with one of the Bucks.
The Bucks jumped to a quarter-high 23-13 lead before the Suns went on an 13-4 run themselves to pull within one at the end of the quarter.
I don't know if I should be excited or dumbfounded that the Suns played an awful, awful quarter yet still finished within 1 of the Bucks.
Bucks, 27-26
Second quarter
Tyler Ennis began the second quarter as the Bucks point guard and promptly had a turnover in the back court off the pestering of Ronnie Price. Later, he drew Price into a shooting foul on his way to the basket.
But overall, the Suns second unit brought the fire (especially T.J. Warren!) and went on a 13-5 run to take a 7-point lead. Warren was abusing every defender the Bucks sent his way with dinks and drives and short jumpers. He was definitely on, making seven consecutive shots to open the second quarter from a variety of angles.
Suns up 39-32 before the Bucks (and Ennis) knew what hit them.
Even when the starters returned, the Suns maintained the lead. I'm still not sure how the Suns survived such an awful first 10 minutes. I mean, wow.
The Suns had a 49-41 lead before the Bucks scrambled to a couple of breakaway layups to pull closer while Mirza Teletovic threw up bad shot after bad shot. He missed four consecutive shots, all off balance, all clanking off the rim. I guess he's earned the right to shoot, but the whole press row was shocked at the density. He finished 1-for-8 in less than 10 minutes of play.
Luckily, Jabari Parker fouled P.J. Tucker as time expired in the half, allowing the Suns to stretch their lead back out to 8.
Suns up 53-45 at half
Third quarter
The Suns opened the second half much better than they did the first, opening up a 10-point lead and maintaining it with the starters. Considering how the starters have struggled as a unit recently, that's a plus.
A Brandon Knight three pointer in the corner stretched the lead to 15. That was Knight's first basket since the game's second possession, a fast break lay up. Maybe that shot will take the lid off the basket for Knight.
After the Suns took a 69-55 lead, the Bucks went on a 13-0 run pull back to just a 1-point deficit as the Suns insisted on taking long two after long two. They did not score a field goal in the final five minutes of the quarter as the Bucks cut the lead to 1.
Suns up just 71-70 at the end of three.
Fourth quarter
Michael Carter-Williams having one of those games that MCW fans dream about. Already 16 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds early in the 4th.
The Suns finally pulled out to a lead again in the 4th thanks to the youngest player in the NBA, Devin Booker (4 FTs, a layup and a nice steal/pass to create FTs by Warren).
The Bucks really long defenders are hurting the Suns smallish back court, but still the Suns were able to keep the lead.
Then for the second time, a Bucks player tore T.J. Warren down to the court on a fast break. This time O.J. Mayo grabbed Warren by the throat from behind and ripped him down to the ground. The referees at first didn't even call a flagrant foul, then only called it a 'Flagrant 1' meaning unnecessary but not excessive. Somehow, Mayo was allowed to stay in the game.
The Suns stretched the lead to 10, but then Mayo made and assisted on consecutive threes and after Middleton and Vaughan made two more the Bucks had pulled back into the lead.
That was four straight threes by the Bucks. Nice defense.
Bledsoe finally stemmed the bleeding with a jumper to tie it again at 88-88 but the damage had been done. A 10-point lead wiped out in minutes. That's how you give a bad team life.
The Suns nearly gave it away, but then Brandon Knight made a floater over Greg Monroe to get the lead back. The game went back and forth after that.
Until Eric Bledsoe coughed up consecutive turnovers to end the game.