BOSTON — The Phoenix Suns are nearing the end of their regular season, set to finish on April 12 against the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There’s no telling what implications that last game might hold.
Currently, the team is eager to recover from their March 12 defeat against the Toronto Raptors, where they let a double-digit lead slip away in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 122-115 loss. They aim to regroup on March 16 against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
“In our last game, we had some defensive lapses that we can control,” said Suns forward Royce O’Neale. “We need to communicate better; our communication has to be sharp, especially as we approach the final games of this road trip.”
The Raptors managed to outscore the Suns 27-10 in the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter.
“I believe we’ll bounce back,” stated Suns guard Jalen Green following the loss. “We’ll learn from this experience.”
With just 15 games left, Phoenix (39-28) faces a challenging schedule, ranked third toughest among remaining teams. Their last three contests during this six-game road trip will be against teams that have already secured playoff spots.
The Celtics (44-23), currently second in the Eastern Conference, welcome back Jayson Tatum, who had missed a significant portion of the season due to a right Achilles injury from earlier playoffs.
Overall, the Suns are focused on taking one game at a time to secure a top-six spot in the Western Conference standings, where they are currently positioned seventh. Their upcoming game against the Minnesota Timberwolves will be crucial for both teams as they vie for playoff positioning.
“Every game is crucial,” said Suns guard Collin Gillespie. “We need to remain focused and not overlook the little details that matter—each game means something.”
