Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott praised his team’s pace and ball movement after Monday night’s 125-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, highlighting 35 assists and 28-2 fast break points.
Ott emphasized the Suns’ half-court execution, saying, “Even in the half court, our pace was pretty good. We just kept getting to the next action… kept trying to move bodies offensively.”
Dillon Brooks led Phoenix with 33 points, and Ott noted his energy and competitiveness as a driving force, explaining, “He plays extremely hard every single night and he works extremely hard on his game… this means something different to him and we feel that as a group.”
Collin Gillespie added a career-high 28 points, including eight 3-pointers, and Ott attributed his consistency to opportunity and work ethic, stating, “He’s always been a good catch-and-shoot shooter… he has enough wiggle to get into the paint and get downhill, so you’re always a threat that way.”
Ott also detailed the Suns’ defensive strategy against LeBron James and the Lakers’ stars, saying, “We made an effort to try to get back in transition… everyone had a little piece to it. Overall, good defensive night on some elite scorers.”
The coach highlighted the team’s ability to force turnovers and convert them into fast-break points, noting, “You can feel it even in that first half… steals help lead to our fast break points.” Phoenix forced 22 Lakers turnovers and shot 57 percent overall with 44 percent from three, controlling the boards 33-29.
Devin Booker exited early with a groin injury, but the Suns surged behind Brooks and Gillespie, building a 21-point lead in the third quarter. Royce O’Neale contributed six points, seven rebounds, and 11 assists, facilitating efficient ball movement and team scoring.
Ott praised his team’s approach to offensive efficiency, stating, “From day one, we’ve talked about building a system on both sides of the ball to best fit your players… we’re just going to keep trying to add to it, raising their level, raising their roof, especially offensively.”
The win snapped Phoenix’s three-game losing streak and improved their record to 13-9. Los Angeles fell to 15-5, ending a seven-game winning streak. The Suns travel to Houston on Friday, while the Lakers head to Toronto on Thursday for their next matchup.
