Suns drop Heat, become 1st team to clinch playoff spot
Not that there was any doubt about this, but the Phoenix Suns are going to the playoffs.
The Suns didn’t leave any doubt in a matchup of conference leaders, either.
Devin Booker scored 23 points, Mikal Bridges added 21 and the Suns shook off a slow start to beat the Miami Heat 111-90 on Wednesday night — becoming the first team this season to clinch a postseason berth.
“I told the guys it was one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I’ve been around for a little bit.”
Booker, returning from a four-game absence for virus-related issues — he said he was asymptomatic and didn’t have any problems — flirted with a triple-double, finishing with nine assists and eight rebounds.
His first trip to the playoffs last season ended with a loss in the NBA Finals. He’s looking for a bit more this time.
“We know what we’re working for,” Booker said.
Phoenix improved the NBA’s best record to 53-13, and the reigning Western Conference champion Suns have now beaten all other 29 teams this season — the first time they’ve done that since 2006-07.
The Suns also avenged a 23-point loss to Miami in January.
“I’m sure they remembered that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They wanted to really make a statement tonight. They just outplayed us.”
Coming off a victory Tuesday night at Orlando, Phoenix improved its NBA-best road mark to 25-6. The Suns have an 8 1/2-game lead over Memphis and are nine games ahead of Golden State and East-leading Miami.
Deandre Ayton had 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who got 11 points and 15 rebounds from JaVale McGee, and 11 points apiece from Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne.
Duncan Robinson scored 22 points for Miami, which lost for just the third time in its last 15 games.
“They were first to the ball a lot,” Robinson said about the Suns. “They were the aggressor. … Unacceptable.”
Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored …