Indeed, even with history approaching as it moved toward an establishment record win streak, Phoenix Suns mentor Monty Williams said he did whatever it takes not to bring it up to his group.
However, after a 114-103 triumph Thursday night over the meeting Detroit Pistons set an establishment mark with 18 back to back successes, Williams permitted himself an opportunity to reflect.
“But it is really cool to be a part of something like that,” Williams said. “To win like this, the way we’ve won, guys out of the rotation, losing [Devin Booker to injury], the relentless attitude of our team, the way we stick together, it makes it really cool.
“Obviously it’s hard to win in this league. But we’re not satisfied. We talk about stretching it out but it takes the right things to do that. So we’ve taken it one game at a time.”
The eighteenth success bested the past establishment characteristic of 17 set by the 2006-07 Suns, who proceeded to complete 61-21. The streak likewise ties the 2019 Bucks for the longest of any NBA group in the last five seasons. The longest streak in NBA history has a place with the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, who dominated 33 straight games.
Suns players attempted to minimize the amount they contemplated the streak on an everyday premise.
“It feels good but at the same time, I don’t know, I guess it feels good but we got another tomorrow,” Cameron Payne said. “We have to keep going. It’s 1-0 today. That’s how I feel.”
Suns point watch Chris Paul, who wrapped up with 12 focuses and 12 helps, said it was a great piece of history for the group, however the emphasis stays on the master plan.
“But for us I think it’s always about the feeling of making sure we’re playing the game the right way,” Paul said. “We always talk about we have a standard. We say this every night and a win is a win but we feel like we could have played better.”
Phoenix was without their driving scorer in Booker, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. Without him, Phoenix zeroed in on a more offset scoring exertion with seven players in twofold figures. Payne and hold forward Cameron Johnson drove the way with 19 focuses each off the seat.
“We have guys that can score the ball across all the lineups,” Johnson said. “Book puts a lot of points up on the board every night. We’re a team that we’re going to find buckets other ways when we need to and that’s what we did tonight.”
Phoenix, who got win No. 17 against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, play the Warriors again Friday (10 p.m., ESPN) – – a matchup Johnson is anticipating.
“A team that we just played and beat at home, we get to go to their place, a division game. It’s a lot on the line,” Johnson said. “This is what playing in the NBA is about. Going into these environments with these implications. Granted it’s a December game, but it means a lot. It means a lot to us to continue this streak. It’s gonna be a fun one.”