Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott highlighted his team’s composure and unselfish play following Sunday’s 108-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Mortgage Matchup Center.
“It was another one of those nights where we didn’t have to say much,” Ott said. “There’s so much emotion in the game, you walk off the court, just kind of piece together play by play. A lot of joy in that locker room. Just a great overall team win.”
Ott credited Jordan Goodwin’s career-high 26 points and eight three-pointers as a key factor in snapping Oklahoma City’s four-game winning streak. “I’m not sure we win that one without Jordan Goodwin,” he said. “The ball just found him. Book ends with nine assists, but a lot of the corner threes Goody got were because our superstar passes the basketball. The unselfishness of the group starts with your best player.”
On Devin Booker’s role in the late-game execution, Ott emphasized awareness and trust. “He has the greatest awareness of game management that I’ve ever been around. The amount of bodies he sees and contact he has to take, and still make the right play, empowers his teammates,” Ott said.
Ott also explained his second-half lineup adjustments. “They do different things defensively, so you have to guard the basketball first. Having multiple guys on the floor, they know their teammates have their back. We got some key stops, rebounds, and possessions because of that,” he said.
The Suns rallied after trailing by 18 points in the second quarter, eventually taking a 105-101 lead on a three-pointer by Dillon Brooks. Ott noted the importance of closing quarters effectively. “Since day one, we call them our micro margins,” he said. “We track them every game, and players believe in it. End-of-quarter execution was really helpful tonight.”
Ott also praised the team’s ability to adapt and find scoring opportunities. “Against the elite defenders, we were able to get an advantage. Turnovers were limited in the second half, shots were quality, and we executed our intent offensively,” he said.
Despite falling behind early, Phoenix’s unselfish ball movement and trust in star players enabled them to rally and secure the win. Booker hit the game-winning three-pointer over Alex Caruso with 0.7 seconds left, giving the Suns a 108-105 victory. Goodwin and Brooks provided strong secondary scoring, while Collin Gillespie and Ryan Dunn contributed to the team’s comeback.
The Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 25 points and Jalen Williams’ 23, will host the Charlotte Hornets, while Phoenix travels to Houston on Monday.
