The Phoenix Suns fell short in Miami despite a career-high from Royce O’Neale. They drop to 1-8 in games without Kevin Durant this season.
The Suns’ second unit outscored Miami 37-22, but the co-stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal simply did not show up in the way they needed to when Kevin Durant is out. They combined 11-for-34 shooting and scored just 36 points.
They have dropped two straight and will take on the Magic in Orlando tomorrow night so they will need a short-term memory. Miami outscored Phoenix in the paint by 30 points, 62-32.
Points in the paint tonight:
Miami - 62
Phoenix - 32
— Zona (@AZSportsZone) December 8, 2024
Top Performers
Royce O’Neale — 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 8-15 FG
Devin Booker — 21 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 6-16 FG
Bam Adebayo — 25 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 9-16 FG
Tyler Herro — 17 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 8-12 FG
Phoenix Suns v Miami Heat Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
First Half
The Heat started off with a 5-2 lead early after a Duncan Robinson triple and Bam Adebayo two. Phoenix responded with a locked-in defense and a timely Tyus Jones corner three to get back into it. It was a slow start for both clubs offensively.
At the first mandatory timeout, the Suns trailed 14-10.
An 11-5 burst from the Suns forced a timeout from the Heat after a pair of triples from Monte Morris and Grayson Allen.
The Suns’ bench unit stepped up big time after a sluggish offensive start. They scored 12 points compared to just 3 from Miami’s reserves in the opening quarter.
Monte Morris played a key part in the second unit surge.
Phoenix led 29-26 after the first 12 minutes.
Duncan Robinson was lighting the Suns up with 14 points in his first 11 minutes of play. Josh Okogie brought some energy early with Morris for the Suns’ second unit, making plays on both ends.
The Suns and Heat traded buckets for several possessions in the second, with neither team able to pull away.
Phoenix took a five-point lead into the half, leading 58-53. Royce O’Neale led the Suns with 13 points followed by nine from Grayson Allen. Booker and Beal combined for just 13 first-half points.
Second Half
The teams continued to trade buckets in the opening minutes of the 3rd quarter. The physicality picked up, especially from Miami’s side.
Phoenix’s offense started to sputter, with Miami picking up the defensive intensity. The Heat had 8 free throw attempts in the opening 5 minutes compared to zero for Phoenix.
A Haywood Highsmith corner three extended Miami’s lead to 10, 72-62 with 5:45 left in the third.
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro took over in the 3rd quarter, leading a 25-8 run to put them up by 12 points. Phoenix’s third-quarter woes continued, as they looked out of sync and disorganized as the Heat walked all over them.
A massive Royce O’Neale three to close the quarter cut the lead down to just 7, and he followed that up with a layup to make it a 5-point game right before the buzzer sounded.
Miami led 87-82 after 3 quarters of play.
Suns are now -58 in the third quarter of their last five games.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) December 8, 2024
The fourth quarter opened with more back-and-forth basketball with the teams trading buckets.
Grayson Allen drilled a three to cut down the lead to three, 103-100, only for the Heat to answer with a Jimmy Butler three the following possession.
Butler took the Suns' defense downhill for an easy bucket ‘and one’ to put the icing on the cake and give Miami a 10-point lead with 3:14 remaining.
A Tyler Herro three a couple of possessions after was the dagger. It was one to forget.
Up Next?
The Suns will play the Orlando Magic just up the road in Florida tomorrow night. Orlando will be without Franz Wagner who tore his oblique and will be reevaluated in four weeks.