“If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get back”- Phoenix Suns star believes revenge for playoff loss last season fueled their win against Dallas Mavericks
The Phoenix Suns were able to get a taste of redemption on opening night, coming back from 22 points to stun the Dallas Mavericks 107-105. This comes after the Mavericks completely embarrassed the Suns back in Game 7 of the second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Some might say it’s not really redemption for Phoenix as it’s just a regular-season game. Nonetheless, Suns All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker was still feeling good after the game.
"If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get back. That's just life," Booker said during his postgame interview with ESPN.
"If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get back."
Devin Booker on bouncing back from the Game 7 last year vs. the Mavs
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Booker later implied that the Suns can’t celebrate too much as they still have 81 games left. However, he also said the team can still take away a lot of positives from the comeback.
"We still have 81 games to go. I think it's a good start to show our team if we're down early that we can come back in games," Booker said.
Suns head coach Monty Williams also spoke about the team’s brief moment of redemption in his post-game interview, via ESPN's Tim MacMahon.
"I think any time you win in the NBA, it's cool. But beating the team that knocked you out, it doesn't erase that feeling, that hurt, but it does help you grow," Williams said.
Booker led Phoenix with 28 points and nine assists. But Damion Lee’s 11 points in the fourth quarter ended up being the real difference-maker that sparked the team’s late comeback.
The Suns ended up winning the game on a surprising game-winning jumper from Lee, which added some extra excitement to the moment. Booker later raved about Lee’s fourth-quarter performance, via Forbes' Shane Young.
"It was unbelievable. But I knew it was coming. He knows how to play the game the right way," Booker said.
Devin Booker on Damion Lee's game tonight: "It was unbelievable. But I knew it was coming. He knows how to play the game the right way. Big ups to Golden State – they have that culture and instilled that (in him)."
As Booker said, it’s only one regular-season game. But it was certainly a memorable one for everyone involved.
The Suns' infamous playoff loss last season
The Phoenix Suns were the number-one team in the entire league throughout last season, finishing with a franchise record of 64 wins. They were also a full eight games up on the second-place Memphis Grizzlies. So to say they were heavy favorites versus Dallas in last year’s playoffs would be an understatement.
But not only did they lose in Game 7, the Suns also trailed by as many as 46 points at home before falling 123-90.
The Suns then suffered through an offseason filled with turmoil, including trade rumors, ownership controversy and their lingering playoff disappointment. So if Phoenix had not come back on Wednesday night’s home opener versus the Mavs, it would have been hard for fans to have any excitement about the season.
At least now there’s a spark of hope that last year’s juggernaut Suns team still has a real shot in the West this season.
Who will have a better season, the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks?
In terms of who will have a better season between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, most analysts are still leaning towards the Suns. The Suns were able to retain most of their key players from their 64-win team, including big man Deandre Ayton in free agency.
Meanwhile, the Mavs improved their frontcourt through the acquisitions of Christian Wood and JaVale McGee. However, their backcourt also took a big step back as they lost secondary playmaker Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks in free agency. Brunson was a key part of the Mavs playoff run last year averaging 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game on 46.6% shooting.
But the real question should probably be whether the rest of the Western Conference has caught up to the Suns this season. Outside of the defending champion Golden State Warriors, teams like the LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Pelicans are all healthy this season.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves also took a big step forward with the addition of All-Star big man Rudy Gobert. So the pathway to the finals for both the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks all of a sudden looks a lot more difficult.