Drew Eubanks meets with the media after another tough loss for the Phoenix Suns (4-6), as they fell 111-99 to the Oklahoma City Thunder (6-4).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was the fourth time already this year that the Suns blew a lead of six or more heading into the fourth, but this quarter might have been worse than the rest.
Phoenix only shot 2-of-21 from the field in the final period and was outscored 31-13. They did not cash in on a single field goal in the last 6:42 of the game.
The Suns have been without Devin Booker (right calf strain) for the last five games. Despite playing the past three games, Bradley Beal tweaked his low back spasms, which kept him out of the first seven games, in the first half against the Thunder, but toughed it out in the second to finish the game.
The team has not looked good at all down the stretch without two of its best players fully healthy, causing these huge blown leads.
However, today was perhaps the best performance yet for the Suns’ bench, who outscored OKC’s 38-8. Their effort was led by Eubanks, who finished with a season-high 15 points.
In total, the Suns shot 32-of-84 (38.1%) from the field compared to the Thunder shooting 40-of-82 (48.8%) on field goals.
Even though the fourth quarter has been a problem, Eubanks thinks it stems from before then.
“The fourth quarter, I think we made we made like two shots or whatever, but I think our problems have been well before the fourth,” Eubanks said. “I think turnovers probably killed us before the fourth quarter even started. That’s something coach has been honest about shoring up and limiting because we’re just given away extra possessions, extra potential points.”
The Suns had 17 turnovers compared to the Thunder’s seven.
Phoenix next plays the Minnesota Timberwolves (7-2) at home Wednesday night.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
