NBA: Suns, bound for play-in tournament, take on Cooper Flagg, Mavs

The Phoenix Suns spent the first 79 games of the NBA season chasing a top-six seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Now, their focus is simply to hold onto the No. 7 spot.

Phoenix (43-36) blew a 21-point lead and was outmatched on the boards, 55-34, in a 119-105 home loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday. The defeat dropped the Suns into a play-in tournament position after Minnesota (47-32) defeated Indiana.

The Suns will close their home season on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks (25-54) and top NBA Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg, before finishing the regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City. The season ends April 12.

“We are trying to get better and be perfect for 48 minutes, and that has been our focus for the last few weeks,” Suns reserve guard Grayson Allen said. “Not looking ahead but thinking ahead on what we are prepared for, and that is the postseason. It will be the same thing these last few games, try and put perfect stretches together.”

Although the Suns have clinched a postseason berth, their hold on the No. 7 seed is precarious. Phoenix has lost nine of its last 13 games and is just two games ahead of the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers (41-38). The Clippers still have home games against Oklahoma City and Golden State, and a road matchup at Portland.

The Suns and Clippers split their four-game season series, with Phoenix holding the tiebreaker thanks to a better Pacific Division record (10-6 vs. 9-6). Each team has one division game remaining.

Devin Booker scored 31 points and added eight assists against Houston, but the Suns struggled to contain the Rockets’ rebounding. Houston turned 24 offensive rebounds into 37 second-chance points.

“One-shot defense was great, then it fell apart,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said.

Jordan Goodwin made his second straight start at small forward as Ott sought a balance between his first and second units. Goodwin contributed 11 points, three 3-pointers, four rebounds, two steals, and two assists.

“We know with his improved shooting that he can definitely pop, and we feel comfortable playing through him in that role,” Ott said. “I feel comfortable wherever he's at.”

Meanwhile, Cooper Flagg continues to impress for the Mavericks. He scored 25 points with nine rebounds and two assists in Dallas’ 116-103 road loss to the Clippers on Tuesday, bringing his total to 121 points over the last three games.

The 6-foot-9 Flagg and former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets are leading the Rookie of the Year race. Flagg made a statement with 51 points against Orlando on Friday, followed by 45 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists against the Lakers on Sunday.

“I think it is definitely some sort of statement,” Flagg said. “I'm confident in myself and I know what I am capable of. Just let the rest of the stuff figure itself out.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who was the 1995 co-Rookie of the Year with Grant Hill, praised Flagg’s versatility.

“I don't know if he's making a closing statement,” Kidd said. “He’s just doing what he has been doing all season, being able to play different positions, being able to be uncomfortable. Has never complained and has delivered for us.”

Flagg often faces the opponent’s best wing defender.

“For him to be able to deliver, it's not easy,” Kidd added. “I know he makes it look easy. That's how special he is. That's only going to make him better.”

—Field Level Media/Reuters