{"id":538275,"date":"2026-03-22T08:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T08:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/538275\/"},"modified":"2026-03-22T08:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T08:50:10","slug":"suns-miss-out-on-late-opportunities-in-loss-vs-bucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/538275\/","title":{"rendered":"Suns miss out on late opportunities in loss vs. Bucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 Despite several chances to pull ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks late, the Phoenix Suns fell 108-105, extending their losing streak to a season-worst five games.<\/p>\n

Phoenix led 82-81 entering the fourth quarter of a very back-and-forth affair and opened the frame with a 9-3 spurt to get some breathing room, but the Bucks did not roll over and were helped by the Suns missing their next four shots.<\/p>\n

After Milwaukee\u2019s bucket with 6:40 remaining made it a two-point game, neither team led by more than one possession until Ousmane Dieng made a running jumper with 2:21 left. Devin Booker responded emphatically, hitting a 3 through the contact by Myles Turner for a four-point play.<\/p>\n

Booker missed a shot that could\u2019ve given Phoenix the lead after a stop. He ran back on defense to knock the ball away in transition, which was initially ruled a foul before the guard lobbied for a review.<\/p>\n

Booker missed a total of three shots that would\u2019ve given the Suns the lead in the final 1:44, and he turned the ball over with 37.7 seconds as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll play through anything,\u201d Suns coach Jordan Ott said of Booker postgame. \u201cObviously, we saw the last play in San Antonio, everyone could see what that looked like. It\u2019s that time of year, he\u2019s willing to do whatever it takes \u2026 knows how important these games are.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he goes out there and spills it. That\u2019s where you feel in the fourth quarter how can we help him more? We\u2019ll take a look, but it\u2019s just that time of year and sure, everyone is definitely hurting, fatigued, a little banged up but no one\u2019s coming to save us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should be able to kill them anytime a double is sent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jalen Green was frustrated by the Suns\u2019 inability to capitalize on double-teams. pic.twitter.com\/rbFixkJ0nu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Suns came out looking eager to put the skid behind them, scoring the game\u2019s first nine points. Phoenix had four players log an assist before Milwaukee scored.<\/p>\n

Booker missed all six shots in his first nine-minute stint, but there was a direct correlation between his exit and Milwaukee getting back in it. He defended Cam Thomas well during that stretch, forcing a trigger-happy scoring guard into more passes than he\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

Phoenix led 19-9 when Booker exited with 2:54 left in the first quarter and clung to a 34-31 lead upon his return with 7:31 left in the half. He cashed in a 3 on his second possession back in to get on the board.<\/p>\n

However, consecutive possessions where Jalen Green was blocked and Booker turned it over gave Milwaukee the runway to tie the game at 37. Another Booker turnover about a minute later led to a Kyle Kuzma 3 that gave him 17 points in the first half.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee led by five at the end of a second quarter it won 42-26.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many times, we had a chance to extend there early, and then you get into the second half and it was just back and forth the entire second half,\u201d Ott said.<\/p>\n

Bucks point guard Ryan Rollins opened the half with a 3 to go up eight before Phoenix rattled off an 11-2 run to take the lead. The Bucks soon offered a 9-2 response to pull back ahead.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee was without Giannis Antetokounmpo and the league\u2019s second-leading 3-point shooter in Bobby Portis (45.9%), but it still has enough length and athleticism to cause problems with players like Kuzma, Dieng and Jericho Sims (all eight of Milwaukee\u2019s offensive rebounds).<\/p>\n

Rollins is also coming into his own this season, averaging 16.8 points (41.3% from 3) and 5.6 assists per game entering the contest. He finished Saturday\u2019s win with 26 points and 10 boards.<\/p>\n

It was Phoenix\u2019s 200th consecutive sellout<\/a> at Mortgage Matchup Center.<\/p>\n

The Suns will try again to snap the skid in Sunday\u2019s second game of a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors.<\/p>\n

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