Suns Bench Shines in Sin City

The Phoenix Suns bench completes the comeback against the Lakers in Las Vegas

It was a game of worry and redemption Wednesday night for the Phoenix Suns as they were able to take the win from the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas on Wednesday night. Four players off the bench came in to score double digits.

In an almost total reverse of Sunday, the starters did not look as fresh.

Devin Booker’s 22 points can be misleading after finishing just 7-20 with a perfect 5-5 at the free throw line. He shot 3-8 from three and was very active on taking shots aggressively deep in the backcourt. He finished his night at -13 plus/minus.

Deandre Ayton overall was quite an underwhelming presence even with LA starting with three guards, putting up seven points (3-12) and eight rebounds. Russell Westbrook finished the night with six defensive rebounds compared to Ayton’s five for perspective. Ayton finished -13 plus/minus.

The shooting woes continued for Chris Paul after shooting 2-4 on Sunday before he shot 5-11 (13 points) Wednesday night. Paul did manage to snatch another double digit assist night with 10, although he finished at -6 plus/minus.

In a uniquely poetic way Mikal Bridges -6 plus/minus was symbolic of the game he had and who caused it. LeBron James took advantage of an out-of-character Bridges with 23 points in one half of play. 

Bridges went 1-8 and fouled out early in the third quarter.

New starter Cam Johnson played just four minutes before being taken out of the game with a right thumb sprain. His old benchmate Cameron Payne played just one minute and was taken out with a right finger sprain.

Even without Payne, the bench was able to find a rhythm against the Lakers.

Landry Shamet led the Suns’ bench in scoring with 21 points and a 5-7 3PT shooting in the game, finishing with a +14 plus/minus. This is in stark contrast to the 2-8 shooting on Sunday with a -19 plus/minus.

The trend continued with Jock Landale who finished the night with 14 points (5-8) and a +18 plus/minus.

Free agent signee Damion Lee responded to a three point, 1-3 shooting, -21 plus/minus performance on Sunday with an 11 points, +4 plus/minus on Wednesday.

Dario Saric made quite an impression in his first game of the preseason, and first game in a Suns uniform since the 2021 NBA Finals, with 12 points on 4-7 shooting and a +2 plus/minus.

While tonight's performances may never answer as to why the Suns lost to a 10-18 Australian League team, it should serve as another example of the Suns not allowing setbacks to define their game.

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