Suns Flip the Script in Week 15: Grit, Threes, and a Season That Refuses to Conform
Coming into Week 15, the deck looked stacked against the Suns. No Devin Booker.
Jalen Green’s availability was a daily mystery. On paper, it felt like a week to survive, not thrive.
Most fans would’ve settled for a 1-3 split and called it a win for morale. But this Suns team?
They had other plans.
Instead of leaning into the narrative of attrition, Phoenix delivered a 3-1 week that was equal parts grit, resilience, and three-point fireworks. It wasn’t always pretty, and it definitely wasn’t conventional - but it was effective. And as the Suns now sit at 30-20, they’re not just exceeding expectations - they’re re-writing them.
Let’s break down how they did it.
vs. Brooklyn Nets - W, 106-102
This one had teeth.
Before the ball even tipped, Rex Chapman was talking toughness at a fan Q&A, and the Suns took that energy straight to the floor. The game turned into a grind - flagrant fouls, technicals, bodies flying.
Brooklyn tried to muck it up, and Phoenix didn’t blink. They met the moment with edge and focus.
Short-handed and clearly irritated, the Suns clawed out a win that was more emotional than aesthetic. But it mattered. It stopped the bleeding after a tough stretch and re-established the team’s identity: when things get messy, Phoenix doesn’t fold - they fight.
vs. Detroit Pistons - W, 114-96
Possession Differential: -0.5
Turnover Differential: +6
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +2
This one started like a statement.
Phoenix came out swinging, hitting 47.4% from deep and building a 16-point halftime cushion. Detroit, to their credit, didn’t go quietly.
They punched back with an 18-5 run that turned the game into a scrap. But again, no panic from the Suns.
They answered with a 16-7 close to the third quarter that sealed it.
No Booker. No Green.
Still, the Suns found their footing behind Dillon Brooks, who continues to set the tone on both ends. This was a professional win - the kind you need to bank when you’re down your stars.
vs. Cleveland Cavaliers - W, 126-113
Possession Differential: -3.9
Turnover Differential: -2
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -7
For two quarters, it looked like Phoenix was flirting with control but couldn’t quite grab it. They forced 16 turnovers in the first half but only led by five at the break - a lead that felt a little too thin.
Then came the third quarter.
The Suns exploded for 45 points, shooting 16-of-20 from the field and 7-of-10 from three. That’s not just hot - that’s volcanic. They ripped the game away from a legit Cavaliers team and never looked back.
Even with the bench unit getting a little loose in the fourth, the damage was done. That third quarter was a reminder: when this team gets rolling from deep, they’re a problem for anyone - even without Booker.
vs. Los Angeles Clippers - L, 117-93
Possession Differential: -5.0
Turnover Differential: -13
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -5
This was the letdown.
Effort? There.
Execution? Not so much.
The Suns played hard, but the rhythm never showed up. They shot just 12-of-47 from two-point range and turned 18 Clippers turnovers into only 13 points - a brutal conversion rate in a game where every bucket felt like a battle.
The Clippers identified the mismatch early, dominated the paint, and never let Phoenix get comfortable. It was a reminder that effort alone doesn’t always get you over the hump - especially when you’re missing your offensive catalysts.
Inside the Possession Game
Here’s the paradox: Phoenix lost the possession battle in every game this week. They were out-rebounded, gave up more second-chance opportunities, and struggled to generate extra looks.
But they took care of the ball - really well. Across the four games, they committed 14 fewer turnovers than their opponents.
That discipline kept them afloat, even when the math leaned the other way.
The Suns continue to live in the margins, and that’s by design. They ranked second in the league this week with 20.8 deflections per game, fifth in loose balls recovered (5.3 per night), and sixth in three-point accuracy at 40.4%. They’re also second in three-point frequency, with 46.7% of their shots coming from beyond the arc.
That’s the identity. This is a team that lives and dies by the three, and this week, it mostly lived.
Three games saw the long ball carry them. One game - the Clippers loss - exposed how fragile things get when the threes stop falling and there’s no inside scoring to balance it out.
That balance? It’s waiting on a healthy Devin Booker.
Looking Ahead: Week 16 Preview
After five games in eight days, the Suns finally get a breather. Just three games on the docket this week, and each one brings a different flavor.
Tuesday @ Portland
This is the lone road game in a ten-game stretch, and it’s the kind you circle as a must-win.
Portland showed some early-season juice but has since slid into lottery territory. Handle business, get out clean, and don’t let this one slip.
Thursday vs. Golden State
Back home. National spotlight.
Prime Video, 8:00pm tip. The Warriors are always a measuring stick, even in a down year.
This one will test Phoenix’s perimeter defense and shot-making under pressure. Expect fireworks.
Saturday vs. Philadelphia
The Suns already beat the Sixers in Philly back on January 20, 116-110. Now the rematch comes at home.
Different week, same stakes. With Booker’s return still uncertain, this will be another test of the Suns’ depth and adaptability.
Final Word
Week 15 didn’t go how anyone expected - and that’s kind of the point. This Suns team is rewriting the script in real time. They’re 30-20 without their star guard, and they’re doing it with defense, ball security, and a whole lot of threes.
It’s not always clean. It’s not always conventional. But it’s working.
And if this is what they look like short-handed, just imagine what happens when the roster is whole again.