00:00Listen up Suns fans, that victory was non-negotiable. On Tuesday night, the Phoenix Suns didn't just win, they made a statement, dismantling the Los Angeles Lakers 132-108. It was an offensive masterclass so convincing, they shifted into cruise control for the entire final 18 minutes, allowing the team to enjoy a stress-free fourth quarter for the first time in three long weeks.
00:25Head coach Jordan Ott said it best, these are tricky games, right before the holidays, people in town, lot of stuff going on where it's easy to lose your focus, but, that's not what this group does, every night they bring the juice, they bring the energy. The game was basically over by the third quarter. Just a few minutes in, the Suns lead was up to 22, and all five starters were already in double figures.
00:49After shooting 58.7% in the first half, Phoenix made 11 of its first 13 shots in the third, to push the lead to 27 with 5.22 left in the period, now the Lakers weren't at full strength. They were without LeBron James due to a lower left leg contusion, and had Austin Reeves on a minutes restriction with a right calf strain.
01:10And just like in the Suns' route of LA back on December 1st, once Phoenix applied real pressure, the Lakers folded, mentally ready to just move on to the next game.
01:20The final numbers were insane, Phoenix shot 59% from the field, 41% from three, and dished out 35 total assists.
01:29Devin Booker contributed 11 of those dimes along with 21 points, McCall Bridges added 25, and Chris Paul provided 16 points with 8 assists.
01:38This month has been a roller coaster. It started with that Lakers win. Then it was either blowout losses to teams like Houston and Oklahoma City, or super tight games that came down to the final possession.
01:51The Suns had played three straight of those nail biters, so this comfortable win was welcome in every way.
01:56Tuesday was just one of only five home games scheduled over the next 33 days. After celebrating Christmas, they head to New Orleans to start a brutal stretch where 12 of the next 16 games are on the road.
02:08The competition might look lighter on paper, but there are still real tests coming, especially after the next five games.
02:14With the team regressing in some key categories over the last month, this was a crucial stabilizing victory.
02:20They need to keep this footing over the next two weeks, all while still waiting on Cameron Johnson to return from that right hamstring strain.
02:27Also concerning is Grayson Allen missing a third straight game for right knee injury management.
02:31This was a major bounce-back game for DeAndre Ayton. He hasn't looked like himself this month, whether it's tough matchups or his own play is unclear, but he was fantastic tonight.
02:4218 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in just 21 nits.
02:47Booker called him unbelievable on Tuesday and the Suns made a real effort to find him all night.
02:57Booker said, we're still finding that chemistry in the times where he has a mismatch.
03:01He, he's an extreme talent. He does all the little things for us so we have to find ways to reward him.
03:07Now, the most fascinating subplot after the Suns blew it open was whether McCall Bridges would record a rebound, assist, steal, block, OR, turnover.
03:18At halftime, his box score showed five zeros in those columns.
03:21He scored 12 of his 25 points in the third, but still hadn't registered any of those other stats.
03:27With a 26-point lead entering the fourth, it was a real question if he'd even check back in.
03:32The Lakers never rallied, so he got his rest and sealed a rare feat.
03:37Since the NBA started tracking turnovers in the late 1970s, a stat line of 20-plus points with five zeros in rebounds,
03:45assists, steals, blocks, and turnovers has been done just 19 times, including Bridges' effort on Tuesday.
03:53Per StatHead, he was an efficient 10 of 15 from the field.
03:57Bridges confirmed people gave him a hard time, especially about the rebounds.
04:01Booker was aware, and with a grin, compared it to something Jay, R. Smith would do.
04:06Two-way signing Jamarie Bouya continues to be a revelation off the bench.
04:10He's a walking bucket with zero fear, always ready to attack the right one-on-one matchup.
04:15Teams need to start putting a proper on-ball defender on him, because right now they're trying to hide weaker players on him.
04:21He cooked Austin Reeves three times in the first half and finished with 14 points.
04:26Bouya is on his fifth team in three years, still fighting for his spot.
04:30Booker admitted he didn't even know who Bouya was before the Suns signed him.
04:35His reaction to seeing him play, surprised.
04:38This season, Bouya is shooting 40 for 66, that's 60.6%.
04:43The Lakers were also down-rotation players, Rui Hachimura, right groin soreness, and Gabe Vincent, lumbar, back strain.
04:51Anthony Davis led them with 23 points and six assists, flashing some of his old dominance in the second quarter.
04:57But LA's offense never got in sync, their defense was a mess, and Reeves was limited to just 22 minutes, scoring 17 points in that time.
05:06So, after a needed dominant win, the question is, is this the turning point for the Suns' consistency, or just a one-night showcase against a shorthanded opponent?
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