Phoenix Suns wrap up postseason with win vs. Lakers

The Phoenix Suns have wrapped up their preseason with a dominant 123-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, setting the stage for an exciting start to the regular season on Tuesday.

Initially, the plan was for Phoenix to play all their players, but a last-minute decision was made to rest Devin Booker and sit out Bradley Beal due to back tightness. Despite this setback, the Lakers fielded their key players, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves, who played around 20 minutes. Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon started in the backcourt for the Suns.

Notably, Kevin Durant had an impressive performance, making his final seven shots in the first half before being benched for the remainder of the game. He scored 21 points in just 17 minutes.

On the defensive end, Anthony Davis showcased his prowess as one of the best shot-blockers in the league, swatting away four of Jusuf Nurkic’s lay-in attempts. Nurkic struggled with his shooting, going 1-for-11 from the floor. It was a challenging night for him on both ends of the court.

If you’re a casual NBA fan unfamiliar with the Suns, you might have underestimated Nassir Little’s potential impact after the team’s first four preseason games. However, experts saw him as a valuable asset in the Deandre Ayton trade. Little proved them right with a solid performance, scoring 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting and grabbing four rebounds.

Little’s athleticism and defensive abilities make him a perfect fit for the versatile defensive strategies employed by most NBA teams. He has shown improvement in his offensive game over the past year, positioning himself as a strong contender for a spot in the rotation.

Drew Eubanks continues to shine as the team’s backup center, and there is a growing belief that he could even close games in the playoffs. In the Suns’ final preseason game, Eubanks put up impressive numbers, contributing seven points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block in just 16 minutes.

Eubanks is known for his spectacular dunks and blocks, and he gave us the best highlight of the Suns’ preseason with a posterizing dunk over Rui Hachimura.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/4gy7dP8I4n

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 20, 2023

Chimezie Metu has impressed with his three-point shooting, hitting eight of his 17 attempts in the preseason. Although he hasn’t been known as a shooter in previous NBA seasons, he has worked hard to add this aspect to his game, and it seems to be paying off.

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