Phoenix Suns vs Cleveland Cavaliers – Oct. 30th, 2021
With the regular season taking an entirely different direction afterward, you might not remember this in hindsight, but the Suns started their season with a 1-3 record and found themselves down 14 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a late October game.
Some perceived this lackluster start for Phoenix as the product of an NBA Finals/short-offseason hangover, while others just saw it as validation to call the Suns a “one-season wonder” or a “lucky Finals team.”
They were both wrong.
Down 42-28 with just under nine minutes to play in the first half, the Suns rallied to go on a staggering 50-12 run and seize the lead. This dominant stretch was made possible thanks to elite offensive play from their All-Star guards, knockdown shooting from role players, and stifling team defense.
Just on a casual 50-12 run 😳 pic.twitter.com/HvOv5lpeG3
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 31, 2021
The Suns eventually won the contest by a 101-92 final tally. Booker led his team in the scoring department with 27 points to go with nine assists. Chris Paul finished with a double-double via a 16-point and 10-assist performance.
This win not only catalyzed Phoenix’s turnaround for the season at large, but also started what would eventually spiral into the team’s franchise record-breaking 18-game win streak.