Recap: Short-handed Phoenix Suns lose 103-89 to the short-handed Spurs

With T.J. Warren and Isaiah Canaan sitting out the game, the Suns just couldn’t get it done against the Spurs who were also without key players LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green and Rudy Gay.

The Suns started out shooting well, hitting 50% from the field and from three in the first quarter but they cooled off rapidly after the fast start ending up shooting 42.2% from the field and 23.3% from three for the game. Turnovers were also a killer tonight as the Suns committed 23... one more than their total assists (22). The Spurs ended up shooting 47.1% from the field and 36.7% from three.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 21 points. Marquese Chriss had 12, Josh Jackson had 11 and Troy Daniels and Alex Len had 10 each. Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili wound up as the Spurs’ leading scorers with 21 each with Ginobili doing most of his damage in the third quarter. The Suns briefly cut the lead to 2 points before he went on a one man 8-0 run.

Credit the Spurs for also hounding Booker on defense, especially when he was playing the point. The Suns really missed Warren and Canaan tonight as they fall to 15-26 at the midpoint of their season.

1st Quarter

Spurs score first but Booker answers with a 3. Spurs come back with 2 treys in quick succession and lead 8-3 at 10:12. Fast play and 4 turnovers already by the Suns but they they are hanging in early. Spurs up 12 -11 at 7:23, Booker has made 8 of the Suns’ 11 points and 2 for 2 on threes.

Dragan Bender in early for Chriss. Suns with a lot of turnovers but the Spurs are a little cold early shooting 7 of 18. Score tied 17-17 at 4:14. Ulis hits two FTs to put the Suns up by 2. Tyler Ulis is only 1st teamer still in for the Suns.

Spurs lead 22-19 at 2:47. Booker has 12 points so far. Forbes leads SA with 8.

Lots of missed shots until Bender ties it at 24-24 with a three. Quarter ends tied 26-26. The Suns are shooting well (50%) but 6 turnovers have hurt.

2nd Quarter

Booker and Chriss back in and Suns go up 32-26 in the first 53 seconds of the quarter. Spurs call a quick timeout. Booker now at the point.

And it’s now 34-26... but the Spurs go on a 6-0 run and Triano calls time with the score 34-32 Suns. The Suns got a little sloppy there and the 8 point lead dropped to 2 at 9:00.

Tied at 34. The Spurs are heating up and the Suns are cooling off. 40-35 Spurs lead at 5:58. Booker out, Troy Daniels in. Another turnover, Suns have 10 so far.

Jackson hits a rare three. Suns playing fairly good D but missing shots and the Spurs aren’t. Spurs now lead 47-40 at 2:56. Booker hasn’t scored since the 1st quarter.

Thankfully, the Spurs aren’t really hot tonight. Both teams are missing a lot now. The quarter ends with Spurs leading 49-42.

At the Half

Devin Booker leads the Suns with 12 points but failed to score in the second period. Jackson, Chriss and Ulis all have 6 apiece. Leonard and Forbes lead the Spurs with 14 each.

The Suns started out hot but wound up shooting just 41.5% from the field and 28.6% from three in the first half. San Antonio hasn’t shot much better as a team hitting 43.5% from the field and 29.4% from three. Phoenix out rebounded the Spurs 27-20 but the Suns had 11 turnovers vs 4 for the Spurs which hurt as did 10 vs 7 personal fouls.

3rd Quarter

The Suns score first in the 3rd. Spurs strike back quickly scoring 7 unanswered points to take a 56-44 lead. Two Suns steals lead to 4 quick points and the score is 56-50 after two Booker free throws.

Suns now with 15 turnovers and SA’s lead is 62-52 at 7:03. Neither team is playing really well but the Spurs are playing better and making less mistakes. Booker has only 16 point so far, Chriss with 12. No other Suns in double figures. Leonard has 20 for the Spurs.

64-56 Spurs at 5:18 as the Suns commit another turnover. Suns winning on the glass 37-27 but are having trouble getting shots to go down. They finally string a few baskets together and close to 68-65.

Suns pull within 2 with 1:20 left to play but Ginobili scores 8 quick points to put the Spurs back up 80-72 at the end of the quarter. Ginobili now leads the Spurs with 21 points.

4th Quarter

The Suns start the quarter with more sloppy play. Spurs up 87-74. Jackson just picked up his 5th foul. Refs call it a flagrant 1.

Suns are at least still playing hard but with few good results. 20 turnovers now. The Spurs are pulling away as the Suns continue to miss shots and make mistakes. Spurs up 97-78 with 5:40 to go.

Booker sits at 1:25 and the Spurs up 101-86.

This game is over.

Spurs win 103-89.