With the Phoenix Suns up 116-113 with 2 seconds to go in the game, the Orlando Magic got the ball into one of their best playmakers’ hands in Paolo Banchero. As Banchero went up for the game-tying three, a lot like the Houston Rockets game, Josh Okogie made one of the most impressive blocks to seal the victory and get them back in the win column.
Josh Okogie with the game-saving block against the Magic pic.twitter.com/23KoIEW3lm
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) March 17, 2023
Okogie has been making plays like that all season long. As I said earlier, he had a block like that against the Houston Rockets that went viral earlier in the season.
Josh Okogie snatches a jumper out of the air and then rips down a powerful SLAM!
Suns – Rockets End of Q3 on the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/1pomR04bRi pic.twitter.com/dLIfYi6Zpo— NBA (@NBA) December 14, 2022
Chris Paul alluded to the similarities in play after the game and is amazed by the type of things Okogie can do on defense on a night-in, night-out basis.
Chris Paul discusses Josh Okogies defensive impact referencing back to the Houston Rockets game earlier this season.#WeAreTheValley #NBA pic.twitter.com/hlFng2DS3Q
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) March 17, 2023
Suns head coach Monty Williams also discussed the impact that Okogie has brought to the Suns and how much he has improved as a defender over the season and what makes him so valuable.
“He has high-level defensive instincts. But as he progresses and grows as a player he’ll add to the scouting report and knowing tendencies of the players and couple that with his instincts he has the makings of being an elite defender on a night in night out basis.”
As for Okogie as he continues to hone in on his special defensive play, he himself isn’t too shocked by the way he has defended as he appears to always be up for the challenge.
Josh Okogie explains his final block and what happened during the play as well as answering a question about the challenges of guarding different style of players the past few weeks.#WeAreTheValley #NBA pic.twitter.com/Lhf3RRiQfg
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) March 17, 2023
The Suns snapped their three-game losing streak to finally get back in the win column. It was a must-win scenario for the Suns and they pulled through even if it wasn’t perfect. Now they move on the road to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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