Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams (R) speaks with Jae Crowder # 99, Abdel Nader # 11, Chris Paul # 3, Cameron Payne # 15 and Mikal Bridges # 25 in a time out of overtime in the NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at the Phoenix Suns Arena on January 23, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
PHOENIX – Relatively healthy, in a groove and with the second best record in the NBA, Phoenix Suns is heading to the NBA All-Star with serious juice.
As it went through the 24-11 start which included 16 victories in the last 19 outings, the Suns did it with a complete team effort.
They closed the first half of the 2020-21 program with a 120-98 victory over the Golden State Warriors at the Phoenix Suns Arena on Thursday, and 61 of their points came off the bench.
“Sheesh,” said backup wing Abdel Nader when asked about the obscene number.
Nader scored 14 points to go with nine tables, and reserve guard Cam Payne added 17 points with 10 assists. It was Payne’s first double-double in a game in March 2018, when he was with the Chicago Bulls.
“It was crazy,” said Payne of the past 12 months, who have seen him take the ball with Phoenix and return this season. “It was a real scary roller coaster … I feel like I’ve found a home.”
Payne’s heat and cold in recent weeks, and the Suns’ success in doing so, is not an anomaly this season.
Remember, All-Star Devin Booker, his own accident and return in mid-January, triggered this sudden shake-up of success. The same goes for the guy who is probably the sixth man, Dario Saric.
The sun survived their absences and prospered afterwards.
On Thursday, Phoenix’s bench contributions allowed Suns head coach Monty Williams to rest his headlines for the entire fourth quarter on a night when the Warriors placed Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kelly Oubre Jr. .
The Suns players weren’t exactly clear on Thursday.
They combined for 10 turnovers and started in a slow start.
Phoenix led 24-23, with 1:41 left in the first quarter, but behind the players on the bench ended the period with a 10-0 half. It extended to become a 21-2 run in three minutes in the second quarter, and Golden State never threatened from there.
It was a year-round theme for the bank to change its tone, change its pace, or simply apply fresh bodies to get the Suns out of trouble. That happened on Thursday with Nader, Payne and Saric ending the game with plus-minus over 20 each.
Despite the big night in the second unit, success in a game led to concerns about the second half of the year. This introspective focus on success is why the Suns recognize Williams. He never stops pinching.
The head coach mentioned the nine back-to-backs in the second half of the program as something he would study during the break.
He added that he was still looking for a solidified rotation.
“Yeah, because I haven’t (found an answer) yet,” Williams said, laughing. “Trying to establish who the reserve guard will be with is something I failed to have a level of comfort with.
“He played well tonight, but I’m still looking for him to be stronger in a few moments. … It will be a huge decision in the second half of the season. ”
Payne and E’Twaun Moore were in that conversation and, after a few hard games, a week ago, her free time helped her reset the former. A minute cut last week against Chicago and Minnesota also allowed Payne to fall ill due to a persistent foot / ankle injury.
He acknowledged that he needed to do a better job, being a “pest” in defense. His health could improve even more during the break.
But his success in spurts got the Suns out of trouble.
The same goes for Nader, who Williams said was forced to join in the last few games, feeling that the slasher athlete and active defender brings something that no one else on the team can.
Saric, Nader, Moore, Frank Kaminsky and Langston Galloway performed their own unique pop throughout the year.
They legitimately won games for the Suns, but also saved the legs of people like Booker, who scored 16 points in shooting 6 of 20 against Golden State.
“We saw her on the last trip, the second half in Chicago, we felt like they came in and won that game for us, they gave us a ton of momentum,” Williams said of his second drive. “The Laker game (Tuesday) when Book goes out, the bank proved to be valuable at a great time.
“It’s quite gratifying to be able to put those guys in the game and at a different level to be able to rest some of our beginners. If we can be more consistent with that group … it will be important in the second half, with all the back to back we will face. “
Booker hit his quad against the Warriors and hasn’t looked good since, but Williams said he should be fine.
Again, the coach was grateful that he had the luxury of resting his All-Star shooting guard and the rest of the starters for a full quarter while winning.
Now comes the All-Star break.
With the Sun able to rest.
And with them watching only the Utah Jazz (27-9) in the world rankings.