3 takeaways from a much needed Phoenix Suns win over the Magic

The Phoenix Suns nearly gave away another victory last night, but instead, mixed things up and took the win for themselves. Correction: Devin Booker took the win.

We have all seen this story play out before. The Phoenix Suns get a double-digit lead, then they emphatically give up said lead through sloppy and uninspired play in the third quarter. They ultimately make it close late in the game, but find a way to lose in the end.

The game Friday night against the Orlando Magic had this all-too-familiar narrative all but etched in stone.

That’s when Devin Booker grabbed the chisel and said, “Nah. I’m writing a new ending.” Except he probably said it much cooler and without the cliché storybook analogy.

With less than a minute left in the game and the Suns down four, Booker got the inbound pass, used a solid Deandre Ayton screen, and drilled a 3 at the top of the key.

In the ensuing possession, he jumped the passing lane to make the steal, then smoothly transitioned into a fast break, and hit a cold-as-ice, tired-of-losing, not-in-my-house, not-against-the-freaking-Magic, 3-pointer.

He wasn’t finished.

After having to switch on to Nikola Vucevic, Booker turned himself into a brick wall in the post, didn’t give an inch, and made Vucevic dribble long enough for Ricky Rubio to come over and get the steal.

Rubio may have earned the statistic for the play, but that was all Book.

From there, the Magic were forced to play the foul-erratic shot-foul game and the Phoenix Suns got themselves back in the win column.

This was a much-much-much-needed win for a team who has been going through some serious frustrations as of late.

Some takeaways: