Beal’s First Triple-Double helps cool down Suns after 3 OT’s (12-22-18)

By:Darrell Owens

Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network

The Phoenix Suns (8-24) came into their game last night with the Washington Wizards (12-20) on a 4-Game Winning Streak. The young team seems to have things starting to go their way. Young stars Devin Booker & 1st Pick Of the 2018 NBA Draft, DeAndre Ayton lead the way for the Suns this season. Booker, who is averaging 24.5 points per game & Ayton averaging 16.0 per per game and 10.4 rebounds per game, give the Suns a solid young duo to build their future around. However, the Suns have been dealing with multiple issues this season, but in my opinion, the biggest issue is…Where will they call home in the future? Rumors have it, that it could be Seattle or Las Vegas, if they can’t secure the funds for a new arena or renovations to current arena. 

Now when it comes to the Wizards their season has been filled with big injuries and drama. Former All-Star Center Dwight Howard, who the Wizards signed over the summer has been on the shelf for most of the season. Starting Small Forward Otto Porter has been out for over a week and could miss more time. One top of all that, word of in-house fighting got out to the media earlier this year. So it’s safe to say the Wizards have not been on the same page all season. Now since we are still early in the 2018-19 season things could still change for both teams. Last night we got a small taste of what could be. Nobody expected to see what we saw last night!

Bradley Beal and the Wizards defeat the Suns 149-146 after 3 overtimes. Beal was phenomenal scoring 40 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out 15 assists. This was Beal’s first career triple-double. Wizards Center Thomas Bryant was unstoppable, chipping in with 31 points, going 14-for-14 from the floor picking up 13 rebounds along the way. Jeff Green & Markieff Morris had 20 points respectively and Tyler Satoransky dropped 17 points adding 9 assists, while replacing All-Star Guard John Wall, who was out with an illness.

Suns star Devin Booker lead the team in scoring with 33 points and 14 assists. Suns forward TJ Warren, who is one of eight players this year to be in the Top 30 in points per game & field goal percentage, scored 28 points going 9-for-18 (50%) from the floor. This year’s 1st Pick of the Draft, DeAndre Ayton scored 26 points and rounded up 17 rebounds. Former Wizards Forward Kelly Oubre Jr, who was traded a week ago to Phoenix for Trevor Ariza & Austin Rivers, scored 20 points in his returned to DC.

Both teams provided tons of excitement in this contest. Two players caught my eye. One Bradley Beal. Beal seems to be a player who can take his skills to a superstar level. The one thing that I like about Beal is that he steps up big-time win his team desperately needs to rely on him. Beal has a smooth jumper and shows a cool confidence. Now I just want to see if he can take it to the next level. The other player that impressed me was DeAndre Ayton. Ayton has all the talent to be the next best thing at the center position. Ayton reminds me of Sixers Star  Joel Embiid, and I believe Ayton has that ability to become that type of player. The only thing I would like to see is the development of a solid mid-range jumper. For today’s big man, I believe this is an essential quality to have. After watching this candidate for game of the year, these young men are showing the skills to take their game to the next level.

Next Games:

Wizards (13-20): Dec 23 vs. Pacers

Suns (8-25): Dec 23 vs. Nets