You think afternoon NBA games are low energy? Friends, let us introduce you to the afternoon NBA scrimmage! It wasn’t exactly a spirited affair from Orlando this afternoon between the Toronto Raptors and Phoenix Suns, but the latter team definitely had a spark — and a shooting touch — the defending champs lacked.
Despite a few runs, the Raptors couldn’t string anything together consistently, while the Suns’ hot shooting didn’t let up all game; they finished 15-for-33 from downtown through three quarters (i.e., non-garbage time), while shooting 46% overall. Even defensively, normally the champs’ hallmark, the Raptors were a step slow; the Suns had 24 fast break points, 38 points in the paint and assisted on 28 of 39 made field goals.