Five encouraging signs from the Phoenix Suns’ first loss of the year

Phoenix Suns (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
5 of 5
Phoenix Suns (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
Phoenix Suns (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

These Valley Boyz do not give up

There were plenty of reasons many teams would have thrown in the towel if they were in the Phoenix Suns’ position.

After leading the entire game, a poor-shooting third quarter gave the Nuggets the scoring advantage for the first time, delivering a significant blow to morale.

Then, after they seized back momentum by miraculously sending the game to overtime, three of their starters, Rubio, Oubre, and Baynes fouled out in the first minute of overtime mostly on ticky-tack fouls.

In fact, the whistles largely didn’t go the Suns’ way most game, as they were called for nine more total fouls than the Nuggets.

This kind of blow would have sent most teams packing, but the Valley Boyz’ deep bench continued to scrap and claw their way back into the game.

This kind of fierce, never-back-down mentality will carry the Suns all season long.