Suns Get Swagger Back in Huge Win vs 76ers

The Phoenix Suns finally got back in the win column after a 125-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

It was a much needed victory for a team that lost their last six-of-seven heading into the matchup.

“It’s huge. I understand the mental makeup of our group to a degree, not to totality, but I understand how much they want to win," said Suns head coach Monty Williams after the win.

"After last night, I felt it. They felt bad, we know we kind of let it go in the third quarter and you get on the bus, you get on the plane, you can feel the remorse and so you don’t know what it’s going to end up being but you understand that your guys care and when you care like that, you come into the next game and you’re focused and ready to go. They couldn’t wait to get on the court tonight and that’s the kind of group that you love to coach.”

Devin Booker led the way with 29 points, though five other players scored 13 points or more in the absence of both Deandre Ayton and Kevin Durant. In total, the Suns shot a strong 50.5% from the field and 46.9% from three-point land while also winning the rebound battle 45-36 against one of the top MVP candidates in 76ers big man Joel Embiid.

Have the Suns figured out the necessary pieces of the puzzle for their rotation? Williams wasn't willing to go that far.

“I wouldn’t say that after one game. I’m just glad we won. I don’t have a lot of declarations and theories after one game; we just needed to win a game. But I do think we are learning more about some of the bench guys and they’re learning more about what we do," he said.

"You can see it tonight and the way they picked up the gameplan. T.J. made a number of plays tonight on the backside and Terrence (Ross) is just going to get better and better, so I think once we get Kevin and DA back, that’s going to pinch a lot of those guys’ minutes but I think they’ll be able to go harder and play with a bit more force for longer stretches because they’re not playing as long as they are right now.”