Each recreation issues proper now for the Phoenix Suns, who had a 46-32 document getting into play on Tuesday evening, barely hanging on to sixth place within the West and the following spot simply exterior of the NBA play-in match that seeding would grant them.
Anybody watching the beginning of their recreation towards the LA Clippers would have been forgiven for not realizing these stakes, nevertheless, as Phoenix was outscored 35-4 over the primary 11 minutes of the sport earlier than rallying to complete the body trailing “solely” 37-10.
Maybe we shouldn’t be stunned that the day after a complete photo voltaic eclipse, the Suns got here out trying like Charles Barkley after dropping his powers in “House Jam.”
LOUD boos because the Suns must name their third timeout as a result of nobody was coming to assist inbound the ball. Clippers up 28-4. That is BAD
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 10, 2024
The NBA document for lowest-scoring first quarter is held by the 2002 Denver Nuggets, who scored simply three to open a recreation. The bottom-scoring quarter ever is simply two factors, a tie between the 1997 Dallas Mavericks and 2004 Golden State Warriors.
The Suns narrowly prevented these ignominious distinctions… however must now maintain the anecdotal and unofficial document for worst quarter ever managed by a staff with stakes:
Suns narrowly keep away from lowest first quarter scoring whole in NBA historical past as Booker heads to the FT line
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) April 10, 2024
For extra context, the one staff the Clippers have ever outscored by extra in a primary quarter? The Course of Sixers:
Clippers led 37-10 in Phoenix
That is the 2nd largest margin via the primary quarter in staff historical past (Feb. 2014: Clippers led 76ers 46-15)
— Regulation Murray (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 10, 2024
Making issues even funnier or sadder, relying on how one appears to be like at it: It was Fan Appreciation Night time in Phoenix.
I’m certain these in attendance felt the love from their favourite basketball staff! Their followers on-line definitely did:
On Fan Appreciation evening, the Suns are displaying how they’ve rewarded their fan base all season lengthy: by laying a fats fucking egg.
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) April 10, 2024
From the Clippers’ facet of issues, the primary quarter on Tuesday prolonged a stable stretch of dominance for them because the postseason approaches, as regardless of lacking each James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, that they had outscored their opponents by practically 60 factors of their final half an hour of basketball getting into the second quarter:
the Clippers went on a 37-6 run over 10 minutes and 26 seconds in that first quarter.
In the event you add within the 52-24 run to finish the sport, the Clippers have outscored their opponents 89-30 during the last half-hour of play. 89-30!
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) April 10, 2024
As of halftime, the Suns have reduce the deficit… to 64-31. Don’t name it a comeback.
No, critically, don’t. They’re nonetheless down 33.
