Recap: Suns win against Orlando in another overtime thriller, 122-120

The starting unit seemed a bit sluggish in the first quarter but the second unit came in and picked up the pace and the defensive pressure in the second quarter. It was infectious as the starters seemed to have more energy when they returned. That never seemed to fade as the game went on and the Suns got their 9th win of the season against the Orlando Magic.

This was about as even a game as I’ve seen with neither team significantly outplaying the other for long stretches of time. The Suns ended up shooting 50.5% from the field and 54.2% from three, Orlando shot 45.8% and 38.9% from three. The Suns out rebounded the Magic 45-42 but lost the turnover battle 18 to 15. The Magic got to the line more often than the Suns and outscored them 18 to 13 there.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 35 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds. T.J. Warren added 24 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. had 19. Deandre Ayton had 8 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.

D.J. Augustin led the Magic with 27 points and 6 assists. Nikola Vucevic had 22 points and 13 rebounds.

A nice win for the Suns as they head for home.

1st Quarter

Magic win the tip and strike first. Teams were trading buckets early but the Magic are up 17-11 at 7:04. Timeout Phoenix. Aaron Gordon already has 7 points for Orlando. Warren leads Phoenix with 5.

Orlando now up by 10, 23-13. Suns shooting only 36.4% from the field. Orlando shooting 69.2%.

Two quick turnovers by the Magic and their lead is down to 26-20.

2:15 to play and the suns are down by 8 as they call timeout. The Magic are hot tonight and the Suns are not. It’s surprising the lead isn’t more.

Suns bring in most of their bench with Warren as the only starter left on the court. Magic now up 32-23 after Okobo hits a three.

Warren splits two defenders and hit’s a long three at the buzzer to end the quarter!

Magic lead 32-26 at the end of the 1st.

2nd Quarter

Kelly Oubre hits two freebies to begin the quarter and cut the Magic’s lead to 32-28. Magic call a very quick timeout at 11:37.

This unit has ramped up the defensive pressure and have tied the game at 32-32. Another magic turnover but the Suns give it right back and the Magic retake the lead.

Jackson and Oubre hit back to back threes! Suns getting hot from downtown. Now hitting 50% from the field and 75% from three but defense has gotten them back in this game.

Suns up 46-43. Timeout called with 5:30 left in the quarter.

Kelly Oubre now leads the Suns with 10 points. Evan Fournier has 10 for Orlando. Both teams hot now as mostly starters back on the court. Suns lead 54-51 at 2:52.

Suns have 17 points off turnovers. Orlando has 6.

Melton blocks Isaac’s shot from behind!

Suns outscore the Magic 35 to 21 in the 2nd quarter.

Suns lead 62-53 at the end of the half.

At the Half

The Suns didn’t start the game shooting well but ended the half hitting 55.8% from the field and a scorching 72.7% from three. Orlando got off to a hot shooting start but cooled off a bit to 46.7% from the field and 47.1% from three.

Devin Booker leads the Suns with 14 points, T.J. Warren and Kelly Oubre have 10 each. Deandre Ayton has only 4 points but 6 rebounds. Evan Fournier leads the Magic with 13 points and Aaron Gordon has 9 points and 6 rebounds.

Team rebounds are even at 19.

3rd Quarter

Booker starts the 3rd with a trey but the Magic close the score to 65-61 on an 8-0 run and the Suns call timeout at 9:54.

Game tied 68-68 but the Magic quickly take a 72-68 lead at the Suns’ misses start to pile up again.

Suns in the penalty after Booker’s 3rd foul. Magic up 76-72.

Warren hits a three but Augustin returns the favor. The Suns have gone cold and the Magic stretch their lead out to 83-77.

Jackson with the strip and the jam! Suns cut the Magic lead to 83-81 with 2:36 left in the 3rd.

Suns take the lead 88-84 following some good defensive stops!

Suns lead 90-87 at the end of the third quarter after giving up 3 points at the free throw line in the final .5 seconds off a silly foul plus a technical.

4th Quarter

Booker and Warren on the bench to start the 4th.

Teams swapping baskets again to start the 4th and then swapping miscues and misses. Magic lead 93-92 after Jackson misses two free throws. 8:18 left to play.

Magic extend their lead to 100-94 as Suns call timeout with 6:57 to play.

Booker and Warren back in and the Suns quickly tie the game 100-100! Terrence Ross hits a three to put the Magic back in front. Suns call time with 4:47 to go.

2:02 to go and tie game, 107-107.

Vucevic is schooling Ayton again. He has 20 to Ayton’s 8.

Book with a slam to give the Suns a two point lead with 46.1 seconds to go! Score 114-112. Timeout Magic. Booker has 31 so far tonight.

Make that 33 as the Suns take a 116-112 lead with 16.7 seconds to go!

Magic hit a three to cut the Suns’ lead to 116-115. Suns call time with 11.4 seconds to go.

The Magic will have to foul quickly to keep the Suns from running out the clock.

Booker hits two free throws and the Magic have 2 seconds to get a shot off with the suns up 118-115.

Bridges fouls and the Magic will shoot three free throws. Augustin makes them all,ties the game at 118 and we’re going to overtime... again.

Overtime

Both teams tired but the Suns seem a little less so as they take a 122-120 lead with 1:30 left to play.

Ayton with a big block! Suns can’t capitalize but neither can the Magic as Ayton gets another block!

Warren gets his shot blocked out of bounds and Suns take a timeout with 16 seconds to play.

Turnover! Orlando has the ball with 6 seconds to go.

Suns play great defense on the inbounds, the Magic miss their final shot and the Suns win 122-120!

This game is over.