The Phoenix Suns’ issues through the last six weeks that looked a whole lot like a byproduct of a punishing stretch of the schedule is appearing to be less that and more shorthanded flaws getting exposed.
That is at least the takeaway two games past that gauntlet, which it should be noted first and foremost have both been wins over the New Orleans Pelicans, the latest a 123-114 final on Saturday.
Again, the most important part of these downward trends in several categories are that Phoenix is still picking up victories, now 6-4 in December. Winning ugly is still winning. But it’s obvious without even going into the mumbo-jumbo of the numbers that the Suns’ quality of play is down, and it is a matter of when not if this starts resulting in more losses, should it continue.
Inside the chaos they help bring to games, it’s getting real sloppy for themselves.
Friday was not the course-correction back to a cleaner style of basketball with the toughest part of the schedule now in the rearview mirror, but Saturday offered the similar opportunity of a directly correctible performance the day after against the same opponent in the same building.
That correction did not occur.
Phoenix turned it over 17 times and gave up 14 offensive rebounds. It grabbed 22 of its own and forced 13 giveaways as well, but was lucky to shoot 20-for-44 (45%) from 3 on a night both of its top scorers didn’t have it.
Devin Booker shot 6-of-18 for 20 points while it was 18 points on 7-of-18 for Dillon Brooks. They combined for five assists, five turnovers and 5-for-16 3-point shooting.
Enough of the Suns’ own chaos was the decider again.
An insane 16 of the Suns’ second-chance points came in the first quarter as a season high for any period, and that plus Collin Gillespie knocking down all five of his 3s in the first quarter and a half was a boost beyond that muck to be up 10 at the half.
Phoenix at points were able to extend past a lead of a few possessions to double digits, specifically at the beginning of both quarters in the second half. But as soon as that would happen, the mistakes would stack up and the ineffectiveness of their leading scorers would let the Pelicans back in the game.
The Suns were up a dozen with 7:01 to go before their next offensive possessions were a missed Brooks middy, missed Booker 3, missed Brooks 3 and missed Booker 3. Those were countered by nine Pelicans points to make it 107-104 Suns with a little over four minutes to go.
But like Friday, Phoenix was clearly the more poised team in crunch time, with that pair at last knocking down some shots.
Booker scored five straight with a pull-up 3 and middy before a Brooks middy finalized a 7-0 run that would finalize things barring a meltdown.
A dustup brought even more energy to the second half.
In the late third quarter with the Suns up four, Mark Williams went to set a screen on Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado. Alvarado shoved Williams out of the way as he moved close, an obvious foul that was called. Williams then lightly shoved Alvarado in the back and Alvarado did not like that at all. He immediately got into Williams’ face, arm, chest, grabbed Williams’ jersey with one hand and Williams’ arm with the other and swung him around.
With the two locked up, Williams took his turn at dictating where things would go, swinging his right hand back with an elbow that hit Alvarado on the top of his head. And as Williams then balled up his fist to take a shot with that right hand, Alvarado was already responding with his own punch attempt. Alvarado then swung back with an overhead right that hit Williams directly in the face and then Williams swiped his left hand downward to go for the last hit of the exchange before the two were separated.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 28, 2025
Both were ejected. It’s a bad break for Williams, who understandably felt the need to reflexively defend himself with how recklessly aggressive Alvarado was being. It also really hurt a Suns team that has struggled with consistency from its center depth all year, and Phoenix will hope the parts of the replay showing Williams throwing strikes do not result in a suspension.
Williams logged his first back-to-back of the season and first in over two years. He did come off the bench, though, due to a minutes restriction. So, there is still work to be done. With that said, Williams deserves a lot of credit for putting in a ton of extra work over the summer and being patient with a long-term plan that has worked out wonderfully for Phoenix to this point.
He has only missed four games this season, all on the second games of back-to-backs. The Suns have two in January, including a week from Sunday. Playing in those and then getting his minute totals more consistently above 30 are the next steps for Williams.
Grayson Allen (right knee injury management) and Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) remained out. Allen has now missed five straight games and there has been no timeline provided on his return for an injury that was initially stated as something not serious. Green’s 2-3 week re-evaluation period would begin a week from Monday on Jan. 5.
Ryan Dunn returned in Friday’s win after going back to the locker room for a right knee injury but that soreness kept him out on Saturday. While Isaiah Livers was the first wing off the bench, rookie Rasheer Fleming did get in there as well, marking the first time this season he’s gotten real minutes in two straight games.
