Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott highlighted his team’s energy and execution after a 113-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. “I thought we had it early… we’ve talked about intent on every possession. Our overall intent was good for the majority of the time,” Ott said, reflecting on the Suns’ start.
Ott credited key contributions from bench players, noting, “Our bench really brought some extra juice at times when we desperately needed it… we enjoy the little things.” He emphasized that the energy of the team comes from everyone, including himself, adding, “It can come from me, comes from all of us.”
The coach broke down Phoenix’s late-game ball movement that led to Royce O’Neale’s game-winning 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining. “Grayson makes an incredible pass to Collin and then the unselfishness to swing it one more to Royce… those are massive,” Ott said, highlighting the importance of possession-based play.
On Grayson Allen’s impact, Ott noted, “He’s improved… he knows he can beat people off the dribble… that pass at the end of the game was high level.” He also praised Collin Gillespie’s awareness, saying, “Collin’s just a winning player. He’s going to make the right play over and over and over again. That’s contagious.”
Rasheer Fleming’s defensive growth earned recognition as well. Ott explained, “He’s owning his development… he has to be a possession gainer for us… the guys are learning him and respecting him, which is what we all desperately want.” He added that Fleming’s offensive rebounding and defensive activity were critical throughout the game.
Ott addressed guarding Luka Doncic, noting the challenges of containing the superstar. “He’s an incredible passer… we decided to try to guard him as best we could one-on-one. Down the stretch we got him off the ball. Not sure we got too many stops, but we got enough.”
The coach also touched on the team’s pace and use of screens. “Oso has speed… not only does he have the physicality and intelligence, he has speed and thrust. A lot of times you talk about pace… he has great pace into his screens,” Ott said, highlighting the nuances that helped create scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead, Ott stressed that the victory is part of a larger process. “It’s nice to have a four-day break, but we’re going to have to get to work. We have some things to shore up on both ends. It’s exciting after a win, but it doesn’t change our process tomorrow.”
The Suns improved to 34-26, moving to 2-3 since the All-Star break, while the Lakers fell to 34-24 despite Luka Doncic’s 41-point performance. Ott’s comments underscored the importance of energy, teamwork, and high-level execution in Phoenix’s late-game success.
