Valley of the Suns
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Suns Analysis: Learning To Win After Losing Leads

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (center) reacts alongside guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek (center) reacts alongside guard Eric Bledsoe (2) and guard Goran Dragic (1) in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Blazers 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Suns Analysis
Jan 13, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) and guard Eric Bledsoe (2) celebrate during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at US Airways Center. Phoenix won 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /

The Last Four Games

Against the Cavs in LeBron James‘ return to the lineup, Phoenix built a 19-point lead in the third quarter before a J.R. Smith heat check forced the Suns into a close contest the rest of the way. Cleveland actually took the lead with 5:28 left in the game, but Markieff Morris led the Suns on a 15-7 run to close the game.

When the Minnesota Timberwolves came to town, most assumed the Suns would make quick work of the worst team in the Western Conference. Minny hung tough in the first half, but Phoenix pulled away late in the third and when the Wolves tried to put a late run together, they hung tough and kept the lead in double figures.

More from Valley of the Suns

Monday against the Lakers, the Suns used runs in the third quarter and fourth quarter to gain a 19-point advantage with seven minutes to play. But when a Nick Young heat check pulled Los Angeles within six, the Suns responded with a 9-0 run to close the game.

Last night against the Blazers, a 25-point first half lead turned into a five-point deficit with 2:20 to play. With Nicolas Batum finding his offensive rhythm and Damian Lillard pulling off his usual fourth quarter antics, it would’ve been pretty easy for this young Suns team to roll over and die.

But they didn’t. They got stops made (some) free throws and closed out the game on a 13-3 run. It’s starting to feel like all those brutal losses in the first half of the season have left their mark.

"“We let them back in the game and they made it a game and we just kept our composure and finished the game strong,” Bledsoe said. “These games are starting to fall in our favor, whereas a couple early on, those games under two minutes or something, we’d always lose.”"

Last night’s win over Portland made it four straight games where Phoenix built a lead, watch it shrink/turn into a deficit, and then responded with some clutch plays late in the game to secure the victory.

Next: A Habit To Avoid

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