Beijing time, March 17, 2023, today's NBA game, 37-32 Suns at home to face the 28-41 Magic, the Suns recently suffered three consecutive losses, although still ranked fourth in the West, but ahead of the fifth Clippers (37-33) only 0.5 wins, if this game is lost, the Clippers will become fourth in the West.
Although the Magic are the third-to-last team in the East, they have frequently defeated strong teams this season, such as the Celtics, Nuggets, 76ers, Clippers, Warriors have been defeated by them, and the Warriors have also been killed by the Magic. In the first meeting between the Suns and Magic this season, the Magic beat the Suns by 17 points at home, so the Suns must beat the Magic in this game, otherwise they will be killed by the Magic double if they lose 4 in a row, which will be too faceless.
The Suns continue to be absent from Durant in this game, starters: Paul + Booker + Okogie + Craig + Ayton, Magic starters: Fultz + Harris + Franz Wagner + Banqueiro + Carter.
In the first quarter, Craig, Ayton scored, Franz Wagner dunked in response, the Suns 7-2, Ayton, Paul scored, Carter, Fultz, Bankero, Anthony played a scoring tide, the Magic scored 6 points, Paul, Ayton, Randale scored, Banqueiro, Fultz, Carter responded, the difference was still 6 points, and then the difference remained around 6 points for a while, and Payne scored consecutive points at the end of the first quarter to chase the difference to 1 point, and the Magic led 31-30 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Franz Wagner, Anthony, and Boll scored, Ross, Payne, Randale, and Wayne Wright responded, the two sides drawn, Suggs scored, Damien Lee, Payne, and Okogie scored 4 points, Fultz, Banqueiro, and Franz Wagner scored 2 points, Paul and Okogie scored, Bankero, Harris, Carter responded, the Magic led by 5 points, Craig, Paul, Ayton led by 4 points, Fultz made a layup, Okogie made 3 of 3 free throws, and the Suns led 63-58 at halftime.
Suns star Booker was in poor form in the first half, with only 3 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists on 1-of-5 shooting, and three turnovers. Paul scored 10 points, 2 boards and 3 assists on 4-of-6 shooting, Ayton had 10 points and 6 boards, and Payne had 11 points and 3 assists on 4-of-5 shooting. For the Magic, Fultz had 10 points, 3 boards, 5 assists and 2 steals on 5-of-8 shooting, Bankero 9 points and 3 boards, Franz Wagner 8 points and 6 boards, Carter 9 points and 3 boards, and Anthony 9 points and 2 boards.
In the third quarter of the game, Booker and Okogie extended the point difference to 8 points, Fultz, Harris, Franz Wagner chased the gap to 2 points, Booker scored consecutive points, Carter and Banqueiro chased the points, the difference was only 1 point, Craig and Paul extended the gap to 6 points, Fultz threw a shot, Booker and Payne scored, the difference reached 10 points, Banqueiro, Fultz scored, Payne scored consecutive points, Ayton made a layup, the Suns led by 12 points, Fultz and Anthony chased the difference to 7 points, Booker made free throws, and the Suns led 94-85 in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Anthony chased the gap to 4 points, Damien Lee and Randale extended the gap to 9 points, Bitadze, Franz Wagner, Anthony, and Boll equalized the point difference, and after the timeout, Okogie and Booker scored 5 consecutive points, Banqueiro and Fultz scored, and Booker and Ayton responded, the difference was 4 points. Banqueiro made 2 of 2 free throws, Paul hit a shot, the difference was still 4 points, Carter made a three, the difference was only 1 point, Paul shot again and scored by 3 points, Fultz made 2 of 2 free throws, the difference was 1 point, the game was 9 seconds left, Ross hit 2 of 2 free throws, the difference was 3 points, the game was 6 seconds left, Banqueiro was blocked by Okogie on three points, the game was over, and the Suns beat the Magic 116-113.
Booker had 19 points, 5 boards and 2 assists on 7-of-17 shooting, Paul had 16 points, 2 boards and 7 assists on 7-of-11 shooting, Ayton had 16 points and 7 boards, Okogie had 15 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks, and Payne had 18 points, 2 boards and 5 assists on 7-of-12 shooting.
For the Magic, Fultz scored 25 points, 7 boards, 9 assists and 2 steals on 11-of-17 shooting, playing the style that a top show should have. Franz Wagner had 16 points, 10 boards and 2 assists, Banqueiro 18 points, 8 boards and 3 assists, Carter 16 points, 5 boards and 3 assists, and Anthony 17 points and 5 boards.
The Suns temporarily stabilized the fourth position in the West after winning, as long as the Suns stabilized the record, Durant can rest assured, according to Suns reporter Gerald Bourguet, Sun star Durant came to the training ground today to do some static shooting practice. Looks like it's in good shape. Durant suffered a sprained left ankle and was re-evaluated three weeks later, and it has been a week now.