The Phoenix Suns megaproject goes up in smoke

With most of the focus on Wednesday night on Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas, the NBA action saw more teams get an understanding of what their postseason holds in store and for others, it’s a case of looking ahead to the new season and an opportunity to regroup.

This is the case for Phoenix Suns with the expensively assembled team from Arizona now mathematically out of contention for a postseason place following their defeat to Oklahoma.

Jalen Williams scored 33 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 125-112 road win over the Suns who lost for an eighth consecutive time and Phoenix (35-45) will now miss the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

The win was the second consecutive for the Thunder (66-14), who extended their franchise record for victories in a season.

With their spot as the top seed in the Western Conference long secured, and playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Thunder were without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace.

Suns eclipsed

Questions will surely be raised by Suns fans as how an expensively assembled team which features All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal be out of contention with these last eight defeats all coming in double figures.

“There’s not one thing or one person or one player or one coach that’s the problem,” Booker said. “When you’ve had a season this bad, it’s a bunch of things. I think the most frustrating part is being that close a few years ago, and now being back to where we are.”

“It’s pretty raw right now, it’s pretty fresh,” claimed Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It’s been tough. There’s no doubt about it. We haven’t been as good as we’ve needed to be.” and expected to be.”

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