The Suns beat the Magic, who had just eight active players, 109-90.
Despite his first two shots – both tries – Devin Booker started things for the Suns when he scored eight early points, including some easy transition sacks. Orlando also made it pretty easy for them, with 1-13 off the field and the Suns unleashed on the fast break.
It was especially ugly for Michael Carter-Williams, who missed a few jumpers and then became so hesitant that he missed a gimme-bunny shot in the paint. The game plan probably required Terrence Ross and Nikola Vucevic to take the most shots, but neither of them could get anything going early, meaning other guys had to do more than they had to.
While the Magic sputtered with almost no one actively for the game, Booker passed for the early kill and scored 17 before Monty Williams suggested a timeout with 2:51.
By that point, the Suns were at 23-9. They keep their foot on the gas and stand up, 28-16, entering the second period.
At the 6:10 mark of the second time, Magic coach Steve Clifford called a time-out again after a collision between Ross and Mikal Bridges, but Ross returned to the game. It looks like the injury was just a hard hit for his netizens.
Orlando was unable to collect 20 points in any of the first two periods and struck out the half, 52-35.
In part 230250814059 of referees not knowing how to serve Mikal Bridges, the third quarter opened with a nice ride by Bridges in which Gary Clark was draped over him and there was an audible slap but no call. Bridges throws up his arms in frustration and Chris Paul even gives up an offense for making a statement to the ref.
Moments later, Booker makes a foul on Dwayne Bacon on a three-pointer, which seems to serve as karma. Booker made all three free throws.
Orlando’s goal was probably just to incrementally cut the lead and try to get within a few figures. You know the drill. There were many similar eruptions in this building that went in the opposite direction. But the Magic just did not have the juice.
The Suns passed late in the third quarter with an 8-0 run that forced Clifford another timeout, this time after an absurd try from Jae Crowder, his second in a row.
Clifford’s timeout came after the Suns’ lead grew to 25 on the Crowder bomb.
It stayed there for most of the game, with the Suns keeping their foot on the fire and despite the big lead continued to play their style of basketball. Crowder went on to have a classic three-gameer that looked ugly in the goal scorer but was beautiful in real time, and crossed the bench overall.
For some reason, Williams caught up with the Beginners again in the fourth quarter for their regular run, despite the big lead and the second night of a rugby match, but the players’ minutes were still limited and early in the season. there is enough habit building to do.
Everyone except Bridges leaves the floor with 2:09 to go, the job done.