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"I hate the fact that we lost," Suns coach
Monty Williams said in his postgame press conference. "But I'm
excited because it proves that when we play a certain way, in
reference to defending well, sharing the ball and playing with a
great deal of force; i.e, competing, we're a pretty good team."
Saturday's loss deviated from the qualities that have made
Phoenix one of the league's breakout teams in 2020-21, both
offensively -- with the Suns failing to score in triple digits
for the first time since Jan. 27 -- and defensively.
Phoenix ranks fifth in the NBA in defending the 3-pointer at
34.8 percent but gave up 41.4 percent from behind the arc to the
Spurs. The Suns rank fourth in the league in scoring defense,
allowing 107.8 per game, but they have given up at least 111
points in three of their past four games.
They can expect another test of their defense on Monday when
facing Milwaukee, the NBA's highest-scoring offense at 119.1
points per game.
The Bucks scored 120 points or more over a three-game winning
streak heading into their 128-115 loss Saturday against Memphis.
Despite the defeat, all five Milwaukee starters scored in double
figures. Two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Giannis
Antetokounmpo was productive in his second game back from a
six-game absence due to a knee injury, getting 28 points, 11
rebounds and eight assists.
Antetokounmpo played 29 minutes, well below his season average
approaching 34, to avoid overwork in his return from injury.
"It's hard to not be out there and not compete for the whole
fourth quarter, but at the end of the day, I know (what) the
goal is, so you've just got to execute the plan," he said in his
postgame press conference.
Milwaukee also got 16 points and 10 assists from Khris Middleton
on Saturday, plus 17 points and seven assists from Jrue Holiday.
The Bucks' bench, however, totaled just 18 points.
In Phoenix's 125-124 win over Milwaukee on Feb. 10,
Antetokounmpo scored 47 points, but the Bucks' reserves finished
with just 22.
Phoenix leaned on its backcourt duo in the prior meeting, with
Devin Booker going for 30 points and Chris Paul adding 28 points
and seven assists.
Since scoring 29 points in an overtime win over NBA-leading Utah
on April 7, Paul has not scored more than 13 points in Phoenix's
six subsequent games. Teammate Deandre Ayton, meanwhile, had at
least 18 points in six of his seven games since April 5 before
finishing with just eight against San Antonio.
--Field Level Media
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