Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott praised his team’s perseverance after Saturday night’s 114–103 road victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“We talked about it there at the break going into the fourth…withstand that next punch,” he said, noting the Clippers’ late runs in the final quarter.
Ott highlighted the impact of his bench unit, which included Kris Dunn, Collin Gillespie, Nick Richards, Jordan Goodwin, and Grayson Allen. “It’s the game of basketball…you just need one stop, one basket to withstand it until the next run or Booker back in the game,” he explained.
Despite the absence of Jalen Green after a re-injury to his right hamstring, Ott emphasized the depth of the roster. “Every night’s something new…we have great faith and it’s the next man up,” he said, stressing that the team will compete hard regardless of lineup changes.
Rebounding played a pivotal role in the win, with Phoenix finishing with 13 offensive boards compared to the Clippers’ five. Ott attributed the advantage to positioning and effort, adding, “The offensive glass is just a philosophy…finding ways to win the possession game helps you get through rough shooting spots.”
Devin Booker nearly posted a triple-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, leading the Suns’ balanced attack. Ott credited contributions from multiple players for maintaining the team’s momentum: “Grayson hit a couple, Collin helped us, Goodie helped us in the second quarter…great job by everyone that played in the game.”
The first-year coach also emphasized the challenge of maintaining team performance over an 82-game season. “No excuses…whoever we put out there, we know they’ll lace them up and compete as hard as they can,” he said, pointing to Phoenix’s resilience in handling injuries and back-to-back games.
Ott praised the team’s fourth-quarter execution and defensive stops, which ultimately preserved the lead. “We were able to get a couple stops down the stretch while continuing to move the scoreboard…tough environment on the road, good win,” he said.
With the victory, the Suns improved to 5–5 and extended their recent strong play to four wins in five games. Phoenix will return home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, aiming to maintain their momentum as they navigate a challenging early-season schedule.
