What we learned as the Suns, now 1-8 minus Durant after the loss to the Heat

MIAMI – Another bad third quarter.

Another opposing star with an impressive quarter.

Another defeat without Kevin Durant.

The Phoenix Suns continue to struggle without their best player and lost 121-111 to the Miami Heat on Saturday evening in front of a sold-out Kaseya Center.

The Suns (12-10) are now 1-8 with their superstar back in Phoenix recovering from a sprained left ankle suffered in Tuesday’s most recent win over San Antonio.

The Heat used a 23-6 run in the third quarter to build a 78-66 lead with 4:09 remaining in the third quarter, erasing Phoenix’s 58-53 lead at halftime. This came two days after the Suns gave up 45 points to New Orleans in the third quarter and trailed 99-93 early in the fourth quarter after leading by 11 points at halftime.

Then, with three points left with 4:35 left, Jimmy Butler scored nine straight points in the fourth, starting with a corner 3 followed by back-to-back 3-point plays, to give Miami a 112-point lead with 3:14 left. 102 to provide. This came two days after Brandon Ingram set the Suns up for 21 points in that crucial third quarter in New Orleans.

Heat center Bam Adebayo led all scorers with 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, while Butler scored 24 points. Royce O’Neale was the Suns’ best player and gave Durant the go-ahead with 23 points.

Here are three takeaways as the Suns wrap up their three-game road trip on Sunday against Orlando (16-9) for the second game in a row.

I needed Booker, Beal and defense to deliver

The Suns have had more than enough of the “others,” as Shaquille O’Neale calls them.

O’Neale made 5 of 8 from 3 balls, Grayson Allen hit 5 of 9 from distance and scored 16 points off the bench, and Monte Morris added 12 points on 2 of 4 from 3 balls.

Such performances, especially on the road, usually result in victory. Why didn’t this happen with the Suns?

Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to shoot 11 of 34 from the field and went an ice-cold 1 of 12 from 3, with Booker scoring the only goal on six attempts. Booker finished with 21 points while Beal added 15.

The Suns only needed one of them to reach their average. Just one. Booker found himself in a tug of war with the officiating on one side in terms of what was called and not for him on the other.

Beal seemed to simply disappear to the side at the 3 instead of going straight up and down.

Defensively, Phoenix gives up the lane too easily, whether it was downhill attacks or timely attack boards. The Heat finished the game with 62 points, scoring 20 fast break points and 19 of 14 Phoenix turnovers.

The Heat are not a big team, but they are active. The Suns couldn’t keep up with that activity, allowing Miami to shoot 52.3% from the field.

How Suns handled life without Durant vs. Heat

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer explained what the Suns are missing without Durant and what they need to do to win with him out.

“It creates so much space for everyone,” said Budenholzer. “His appeal alone makes everything easier for our group. You can’t replicate the kind of fear he has. Our attention to detail and spacing probably needs to be better, our screening. All the little things that go with it.” Maybe it’s because Kevin’s presence draws so much attention to himself.

This is simply offensive.

“He helps us defensively,” continued Budenholzer. “We have to find a way to protect the rim and the rebound and make those plays. I feel like he made a lot of plays to win. Other guys have to find a way to step up and do those things. We did.” I was close. I think we just have to keep working and keep pushing.”

So let’s recap.

Offensively, the Suns moved the ball on doubles and consistently found the open man, going 11 of 24 from 3 in the first half. They only committed six turnovers, which led to just five Miami points in the first half.

So they moved the ball, protected it and made Miami pay. Then in the second half they were just 5 of 17. When the shots aren’t falling, the defense can really focus on limiting everything, but the ball movement and spacing wasn’t the same either.

That would change if Booker or Beal took an offensive approach.

Defensively, Phoenix once again failed to defend the paint. Durant should have at least blocked and rebounded some shots to reduce Miami’s extensive possessions. He would likely take on the challenging Butler in the fourth round.

The Heat really started to attack with Adebayo and Butler. Adebayo has developed into one of the greats by continually improving his overall game.

He can now take the jump shot and is confident enough to make the fourth 3 after missing 3 in a row, managing to give Miami an eight-point lead with 5:39 to play.

Josh Okogie provided immediate defense as he finished the game with three blocks, but Budenholzer had hot cards in Allen and O’Neale.

O’Neale is what Dunn can be

Royce O’Neale joked earlier in the season that Ryan Dunn hadn’t asked him any questions since he started – because Dunn was within earshot.

Dunn’s reaction, eyebrows raised and all, was priceless, but the veteran added that it was all about giving him advice and keeping his confidence up.

Dunn has missed the last two games due to soreness in his left ankle, hoping it was a “short-term” thing, according to Budenholzer before the game.

O’Neale was once Dunn, a freshman looking to make an impact on defense, but has developed into a 3-and-D guy. That can be Dunn if he improves his 3-point shooting.

The rookie let the defense down. He’s more athletic than O’Neale, but clearly lacks experience and the 3. The rookie is at 31%, while O’Neale posted a career-best 42.5% on Saturday.

That will only increase after his 5-of-8 performance on Saturday. If Dunn can continually improve to the point of making, say, 37% over the next three years and continue to work on his defense, he’ll be on his way to becoming that 3-and-D guy.

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What we learned as the Suns, now 1-8 minus Durant after the loss to the Heat

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