The Suns had their faith sealed with a 122-116 loss in Game 4 despite valiant efforts by All-Star Devin Booker, who scored 49 points, and superstar Kevin Durant, who had 33 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Timberwolves became the first team to clinch the conference semi-finals and are now waiting to see how the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets series wraps up to find out their next playoff opponent.

The Suns were ahead for most of the Game 4, and it initially looked like they might just avoid a sweep. However, Timberwolves’ shooting guard Anthony Edwards took over in the second half, scoring 31 points to help his team finish the series then and there.

Edwards had help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels also added 18 points. On the other hand, no one besides Booker and Durant scored in double digits for the Suns.

The Suns will now have to go to the drawing board despite having Durant, Booker, and All-Star Bradley Beal on their roster. The Timberwolves will enjoy their first playoff series win in two decades while also feeling pretty good about themselves, regardless of whether the Lakers or Nuggets come next. 

The post Phoenix Suns Swept By Minnesota Timberwolves in First-Round of 2024 NBA Playoffs appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Rivers and Nurse would bring championship pedigree to the Suns’ locker room, something that the franchise prioritized during their search. However, they will also consider a couple of up-and-coming coaching stars in Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez and their own associate head coach Kevin Young.

All four candidates are expected to have a second round of interviews with Suns’ brass in the coming days.

The Suns are expected to face a lot of competition for Nurse, who already attracted interest from multiple franchises with head coaching openings. He is considered a strong candidate to take over the Milwaukee Bucks while also being interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rivers, on the other hand, reportedly considered taking a break from coaching but is attracted by the possibility of coaching a talented Suns team led by All-Stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

The Suns are looking for a new head coach since firing Monty Williams following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Despite acquiring superstar Durant in a trade deadline deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix flamed out in the postseason, being eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in six games in the Western Conference semifinals.

The post Doc Rivers and Nick Nurse Among Candidates for Suns’ Head Coaching Job appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

About an hour before tipoff, the new Suns player was performing an individual drill when he lost his balance while jumping to take a shot. Although he managed to get back up and continue training, Durant’s ankle began to show swelling once he returned to the locker room, leading to the Suns ruling him out for the game.

“I feel bad for him because he feels bad,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I saw his face and — I’ve been around him so many times — I know what he’s feeling and I don’t want him feeling that way at all.”

Despite the disappointment of Durant being unable to make his home debut for the team, the Suns were able to progress without him, pulling off a 132-101 win. Devin Booker turned up as the Suns’ key player on the night, scoring 44 points on 17-of-23 shooting in just 28 minutes.

Booker finds himself in strong form, being named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

The post Kevin Durant to Undergo MRI After Ankle Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Durant scored 23 points in 27 minutes as the Suns emerged 105-91 winners against the Charlotte Hornets, thereby snapping the Hornets’ five-game winning streak in the process.

“I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Durant commented after his debut. “Everybody out there was trying to make me as comfortable as possible,” Durant said. “I just got to keep grinding, man, and this jersey on me will look normal as games go on.”

One of the main talking points of the game was Durant’s partnership with the in-form Devin Booker. With Durant’s contributions, Booker scored 37 points while adding six rebounds and seven assists.

The only area of concern that emerged from Wednesday’s victory was the Suns’ apparent reliance on a few key players. Apart from Durant and Booker, the only other player who was able to enter double digits on the scoreboard was Deandre Ayton, who scored 16 points.

The post Kevin Durant Makes Suns Debut Following Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

If the number turns out to be correct, the Suns’ sale will set the record for the highest price paid for an NBA team. As part of the deal, Ishbia will also get the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. The previous record was the $2.35 billion that Joe Tsai paid for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

Ishbia spent his college career at Michigan State, where he was a walk-on for the Spartans. He was part of the 2000 championship team and later made several donations to the program. The 42-year-old businessman has been reportedly looking to buy an NBA or NFL team for a while now, being previously linked with the sales of the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders.

The Suns were put on sale by the current owner Robert Sarver earlier this year. The move came following the NBA’s investigation that found Sarver guilty of breaking the league’s conduct rules and creating an unsafe working environment. He was suspended for one year and fined $10 million as a result.

Sarver, acting as a leader of an ownership group, bought the Suns in 2004 for then-record $401 million. Under his ownership, the Suns made the playoffs seven times and were in the NBA Finals once. They also had three additional Western Conference Finals.

The post Mat Ishbia Finalizing Purchase of Phoenix Suns for Record $4 Billion appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns’ star began to experience pain during the second period of the game, immediately grabbing at his heel before jogging to the end of the court. When a foul was called a few seconds later, Paul was subbed out and remained on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

“If I could have played, I would’ve,” Paul said of his injury following the defeat. He added that despite the pain, he does not believe that he has sustained a long-term injury and that he mostly left the game as a precaution.

Following Monday night’s defeat, Suns coach Monty Williams stated that there was no update on Paul’s injury. He further commented that “He just had like a misstep over in the corner, and I looked up and he was limping a little bit.”

Joining Paul on the sidelines was starting power forward Cameron Johnson, who has been ruled out indefinitely with a torn meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s 102-82 win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Other options that the Suns have in this position include Torrey Craig, Damion Lee, and Dario Saric.

The post Suns Chris Paul Exits 76ers Game With Discomfort appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Johnson landed awkwardly on his knee during the Suns’ 102-82 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers while trying to plant his foot and run in the opposite direction. He immediately began limping after picking himself up and had to be taken off the field of play minutes later. While the Suns suspect that he may have suffered a torn meniscus, more tests still need to be conducted in order to confirm the nature of the injury.

“He’s a starter for us, so that’s always a tough blow,” coach Monty Williams said. “That happens throughout the season. You just have to make your adjustments.”

The Suns will be missing a crucial component of their success during Johnson’s absence, particularly given his career-high average of 13 points this season and the 29 points that he scored during the 107-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves; his best score this season.

Having been drafted for the Suns in 2019, Johnson is currently in the final year of his rookie contract with the team. He has gradually moved into a starting role in the squad.

The post Suns’ Cameron Johnson Sidelined With Knee Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns managed to get the 104-96 win primarily thanks to a great defensive effort that slowed down Golden State’s superstar Stephen Curry. Entering the game, Curry, considered the favorite for this season’s MVP award, averaged 28.6 points per game. But Phoenix limited him to just a 12-point performance that included 4-21 shooting from the floor.

The win is even more impressive when you consider that the Suns saw their All-Star guard Devin Booker leave the game in the second quarter due to a hamstring injury. Center Deandre Ayton picked up the slack with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Paul added 15 points, six boards, 11 assists, and five steals.

With Curry having an off-game, the Warriors saw Jordan Poole step up and deliver a 28-point performance. Otto Porter had 16 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Andrew Wiggins also contributed with 10 points.

The Suns have now tied their longest winning streak in franchise history and have the most consecutive wins in the NBA this season. It is also the league’s longest winning streak since the Milwaukee Bucks won 18 straight in late 2019.

“You sort of forget about [the streak], because we’re just hooping,” Chris Paul said after the game. “We prepare for every game the same way. When you do that, it’s about building habits. Three teams I’ve been on have won 17 in a row. It’s a really good feeling.”

The post Suns Extend Win Streak to 17 Games After Beating Warriors appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns were carried by All-Star duo Chris Paul and Devin Booker, who had another postseason outing. Paul scored 37 points and dished seven assists, while Booker had 34 points and 11 boards.

Nuggets made a late fourth-quarter push but couldn’t go all the way without their best player Nikola Jokic on the court. Jokic, who recently received the NBA MVP award, was ejected late in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Cameron Payne.

Jokic made a hard swipe to get the ball out of Payne’s hands but also ended up hitting the Suns guard in the face. After the review, referees called a Flagrant 2 on the Serbian and sent him to the locker room.

Despite ending the game early, Jokic still managed to contribute with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Will Barton had 25 points, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 for Denver as well.

This was a bitter end of the postseason for the Nuggets but also an expected one. They entered the playoffs without one of their best players in Jamal Murray and knew they would have a tough time getting all the way without him.

“I’m not going to allow this series to define the season,” said Denver’s head coach Michael Malone. “Hopefully next year we can find a way to stay healthy and be better and see where we can go.”

Phoenix, on the other hand, now waits for the conclusion of the Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers series to find out their opponent in the Western Conference Finals. This will be the first trip to conference finals for the Suns since the 2009-10 season, which was also the last time the team has made the playoffs.

“It’s a feeling that’s kind of hard to put (into) words,” said Booker. “After a game like this, or after you close a series out, you sit back and reflect a little bit and think about what we’ve been through as an organization and as a team.”

The post Suns Sweep Nuggets to Reach Western Conference Finals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns had their faith sealed with a 122-116 loss in Game 4 despite valiant efforts by All-Star Devin Booker, who scored 49 points, and superstar Kevin Durant, who had 33 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Timberwolves became the first team to clinch the conference semi-finals and are now waiting to see how the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets series wraps up to find out their next playoff opponent.

The Suns were ahead for most of the Game 4, and it initially looked like they might just avoid a sweep. However, Timberwolves’ shooting guard Anthony Edwards took over in the second half, scoring 31 points to help his team finish the series then and there.

Edwards had help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 28 points and had 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels also added 18 points. On the other hand, no one besides Booker and Durant scored in double digits for the Suns.

The Suns will now have to go to the drawing board despite having Durant, Booker, and All-Star Bradley Beal on their roster. The Timberwolves will enjoy their first playoff series win in two decades while also feeling pretty good about themselves, regardless of whether the Lakers or Nuggets come next. 

The post Phoenix Suns Swept By Minnesota Timberwolves in First-Round of 2024 NBA Playoffs appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Rivers and Nurse would bring championship pedigree to the Suns’ locker room, something that the franchise prioritized during their search. However, they will also consider a couple of up-and-coming coaching stars in Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez and their own associate head coach Kevin Young.

All four candidates are expected to have a second round of interviews with Suns’ brass in the coming days.

The Suns are expected to face a lot of competition for Nurse, who already attracted interest from multiple franchises with head coaching openings. He is considered a strong candidate to take over the Milwaukee Bucks while also being interviewed by the Philadelphia 76ers.

Rivers, on the other hand, reportedly considered taking a break from coaching but is attracted by the possibility of coaching a talented Suns team led by All-Stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

The Suns are looking for a new head coach since firing Monty Williams following a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. Despite acquiring superstar Durant in a trade deadline deal with the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix flamed out in the postseason, being eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in six games in the Western Conference semifinals.

The post Doc Rivers and Nick Nurse Among Candidates for Suns’ Head Coaching Job appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

About an hour before tipoff, the new Suns player was performing an individual drill when he lost his balance while jumping to take a shot. Although he managed to get back up and continue training, Durant’s ankle began to show swelling once he returned to the locker room, leading to the Suns ruling him out for the game.

“I feel bad for him because he feels bad,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I saw his face and — I’ve been around him so many times — I know what he’s feeling and I don’t want him feeling that way at all.”

Despite the disappointment of Durant being unable to make his home debut for the team, the Suns were able to progress without him, pulling off a 132-101 win. Devin Booker turned up as the Suns’ key player on the night, scoring 44 points on 17-of-23 shooting in just 28 minutes.

Booker finds himself in strong form, being named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

The post Kevin Durant to Undergo MRI After Ankle Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Durant scored 23 points in 27 minutes as the Suns emerged 105-91 winners against the Charlotte Hornets, thereby snapping the Hornets’ five-game winning streak in the process.

“I feel like I fit in pretty well,” Durant commented after his debut. “Everybody out there was trying to make me as comfortable as possible,” Durant said. “I just got to keep grinding, man, and this jersey on me will look normal as games go on.”

One of the main talking points of the game was Durant’s partnership with the in-form Devin Booker. With Durant’s contributions, Booker scored 37 points while adding six rebounds and seven assists.

The only area of concern that emerged from Wednesday’s victory was the Suns’ apparent reliance on a few key players. Apart from Durant and Booker, the only other player who was able to enter double digits on the scoreboard was Deandre Ayton, who scored 16 points.

The post Kevin Durant Makes Suns Debut Following Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

If the number turns out to be correct, the Suns’ sale will set the record for the highest price paid for an NBA team. As part of the deal, Ishbia will also get the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. The previous record was the $2.35 billion that Joe Tsai paid for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.

Ishbia spent his college career at Michigan State, where he was a walk-on for the Spartans. He was part of the 2000 championship team and later made several donations to the program. The 42-year-old businessman has been reportedly looking to buy an NBA or NFL team for a while now, being previously linked with the sales of the Denver Broncos and the Washington Commanders.

The Suns were put on sale by the current owner Robert Sarver earlier this year. The move came following the NBA’s investigation that found Sarver guilty of breaking the league’s conduct rules and creating an unsafe working environment. He was suspended for one year and fined $10 million as a result.

Sarver, acting as a leader of an ownership group, bought the Suns in 2004 for then-record $401 million. Under his ownership, the Suns made the playoffs seven times and were in the NBA Finals once. They also had three additional Western Conference Finals.

The post Mat Ishbia Finalizing Purchase of Phoenix Suns for Record $4 Billion appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns’ star began to experience pain during the second period of the game, immediately grabbing at his heel before jogging to the end of the court. When a foul was called a few seconds later, Paul was subbed out and remained on the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

“If I could have played, I would’ve,” Paul said of his injury following the defeat. He added that despite the pain, he does not believe that he has sustained a long-term injury and that he mostly left the game as a precaution.

Following Monday night’s defeat, Suns coach Monty Williams stated that there was no update on Paul’s injury. He further commented that “He just had like a misstep over in the corner, and I looked up and he was limping a little bit.”

Joining Paul on the sidelines was starting power forward Cameron Johnson, who has been ruled out indefinitely with a torn meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s 102-82 win against the Portland Trail Blazers. Other options that the Suns have in this position include Torrey Craig, Damion Lee, and Dario Saric.

The post Suns Chris Paul Exits 76ers Game With Discomfort appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Johnson landed awkwardly on his knee during the Suns’ 102-82 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers while trying to plant his foot and run in the opposite direction. He immediately began limping after picking himself up and had to be taken off the field of play minutes later. While the Suns suspect that he may have suffered a torn meniscus, more tests still need to be conducted in order to confirm the nature of the injury.

“He’s a starter for us, so that’s always a tough blow,” coach Monty Williams said. “That happens throughout the season. You just have to make your adjustments.”

The Suns will be missing a crucial component of their success during Johnson’s absence, particularly given his career-high average of 13 points this season and the 29 points that he scored during the 107-116 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves; his best score this season.

Having been drafted for the Suns in 2019, Johnson is currently in the final year of his rookie contract with the team. He has gradually moved into a starting role in the squad.

The post Suns’ Cameron Johnson Sidelined With Knee Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns managed to get the 104-96 win primarily thanks to a great defensive effort that slowed down Golden State’s superstar Stephen Curry. Entering the game, Curry, considered the favorite for this season’s MVP award, averaged 28.6 points per game. But Phoenix limited him to just a 12-point performance that included 4-21 shooting from the floor.

The win is even more impressive when you consider that the Suns saw their All-Star guard Devin Booker leave the game in the second quarter due to a hamstring injury. Center Deandre Ayton picked up the slack with 24 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Paul added 15 points, six boards, 11 assists, and five steals.

With Curry having an off-game, the Warriors saw Jordan Poole step up and deliver a 28-point performance. Otto Porter had 16 points and six rebounds off the bench, while Andrew Wiggins also contributed with 10 points.

The Suns have now tied their longest winning streak in franchise history and have the most consecutive wins in the NBA this season. It is also the league’s longest winning streak since the Milwaukee Bucks won 18 straight in late 2019.

“You sort of forget about [the streak], because we’re just hooping,” Chris Paul said after the game. “We prepare for every game the same way. When you do that, it’s about building habits. Three teams I’ve been on have won 17 in a row. It’s a really good feeling.”

The post Suns Extend Win Streak to 17 Games After Beating Warriors appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Suns were carried by All-Star duo Chris Paul and Devin Booker, who had another postseason outing. Paul scored 37 points and dished seven assists, while Booker had 34 points and 11 boards.

Nuggets made a late fourth-quarter push but couldn’t go all the way without their best player Nikola Jokic on the court. Jokic, who recently received the NBA MVP award, was ejected late in the third quarter for a flagrant foul on Cameron Payne.

Jokic made a hard swipe to get the ball out of Payne’s hands but also ended up hitting the Suns guard in the face. After the review, referees called a Flagrant 2 on the Serbian and sent him to the locker room.

Despite ending the game early, Jokic still managed to contribute with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Will Barton had 25 points, and Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 for Denver as well.

This was a bitter end of the postseason for the Nuggets but also an expected one. They entered the playoffs without one of their best players in Jamal Murray and knew they would have a tough time getting all the way without him.

“I’m not going to allow this series to define the season,” said Denver’s head coach Michael Malone. “Hopefully next year we can find a way to stay healthy and be better and see where we can go.”

Phoenix, on the other hand, now waits for the conclusion of the Utah Jazz vs. LA Clippers series to find out their opponent in the Western Conference Finals. This will be the first trip to conference finals for the Suns since the 2009-10 season, which was also the last time the team has made the playoffs.

“It’s a feeling that’s kind of hard to put (into) words,” said Booker. “After a game like this, or after you close a series out, you sit back and reflect a little bit and think about what we’ve been through as an organization and as a team.”

The post Suns Sweep Nuggets to Reach Western Conference Finals appeared first on yoursportspot.com.