The Phoenix Suns became the first team that officially clinched its spot to the 2022 NBA playoffs.
Thanks to a dominant performance in the second half, the Suns crushed the Miami Heat (111-90) in a conference leaders face-off.
Devin Booker returned after missing four games due to Covid-19 protocols and led the way for Phoenix with 23 points. Five more players scored in double figures for the winners.
On the other hand, Duncan Robinson had 22 points for Miami. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo added 17 each for the losing squad.
After a tough battle in the first half, the Suns took over. Playing very well on both ends, Phoenix outscored Miami 34-19 in the third quarter and never looked back. Things didn’t change much in the fourth and the Suns cruised to the win.
Phoenix improved to 53-13 and officially advanced to the postseason. The Suns are 8.5 games ahead of second-placed Memphis Grizzlies (45-22). Therefore, they are a few wins away from securing the top spot in the West.
Phoenix improved to a league-best 25-6 on the road and now is 26-5 since January 1st. The Suns also evened the season series with the Heat (1-1) and are close to finishing with the best record in the league.
On the other hand, the Heat dropped to 44-23, but remained on top of the East. Miami fell to 23-8 at home and have now won 12 of their last 15 matches. They are 21 games above .500 for the first time since 2013/14.
Up next, the Heat host the Cleveland Cavaliers (38-27), while Phoenix will face the Toronto Raptors (34-30). Both games will take place on Friday, March 11.
The Phoenix Suns are the first team to clinch a spot in the 2022 NBA Playoffs ☀️ pic.twitter.com/Pgy5Nmh3Jw — ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2022
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