113
121
The Suns needed a positive showing during this tough three-game road trip in four days.
Indeed, they've certainly started things the right way.
Gerald Green exploded for 13 of his 28 points in the first quarter (in a span of about three minutes) while Markieff Morris added 16 points and 14 rebounds en route to a 121-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday for their second straight victory.
"They seemed focused tonight," Jeff Hornacek said after the game. "They came out from the start with energy and finished the game being aggressive on the boards. I thought we did a good job of attacking the basket and shot the ball pretty well."
While the starters more than held their own with Goran Dragic's 19 points, Eric Bledsoe's 14 and P.J. Tucker's 11, it was the Suns' bench who was the difference-maker.
Led by Green's 28 and Markieff Morris' 16, Phoenix outscored the Toronto bench 59-11. In fact, the bench tallied nearly as many boards (25) as the entire Raptors squad (26). The Suns finished with a 45-26 rebounding advantage.
The Suns cap off this road trip in Brooklyn Monday night before returning home to face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"We’re just trying to finish this road trip on a great note. We feel like we didn’t play the way we wanted to in Boston [Friday night] but came away with the win. Tonight I just wanted to be aggressive; I’ve felt the last two games I’ve kind of been floating. My teammates have had confidence in me all year so it’s easy to go out there and play when you have a group of guys who believe in you. I love this team and I love the way we’re playing right now." -- Gerald Green on the big win over the Raptors
HIGHLIGHTS
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Gerald Green returned to his hot-shooting form scoring 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting including five 3-pointers to lead the Suns. Green also finished with five rebounds. His 28 points helped the Suns bench outscore Toronto's bench 59-11.
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
STAT(S) OF THE NIGHT
34: the number of free throws the Suns made. Phoenix went 34-of-38 from the line (90 percent) including 10-of-10 from Eric Bledsoe.