The Suns are back on track. Jordan Ott: We were all in a winning mindset.
2026-03-24 15:19
Thanks to scoring from Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grispe, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Toronto Raptors 120-95 at home in another NBA regular season game of the 2025/26 season, ending a five-game losing streak. Jordan Ott stated that his team withstood the pressure from the start and consistently focused on winning mentally.
Devin Booker scored 25 points and had 6 assists for the Phoenix Suns, Jalen Green scored 20 points and had 7 assists, and Grispe contributed 16 points and 3 assists.
Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott said in an interview, "From the start of the game, we showed a clear intention, especially in terms of physicality on defense. Our opponents are very good in transition offense and are also a team with great size and good penetration skills. So we had to withstand the initial impact, and I think we all had a must-win mentality."
"After the first quarter, the players reminded each other of the second quarter of the previous game. At halftime, they reminded each other of their performance in the previous away game. We maintained this mentality from the start of the game and kept our focus throughout the first three quarters."
Regarding shooting performance, Jordan Ott said, "I remember we were probably 11-for-19 in the first half. Whether your shooting touch is good or bad, you have to stick to your belief in shooting. So we did shoot well at the start, but I think the more important thing was that our passing was very good. The Toronto Raptors are a big and tough defensive team, so we tried to transition offense. As the team operates and revolves around Devin Booker, you'll know he'll find his rhythm sooner or later."
“There’s a reason why Jalen Green and Devin Booker are our leaders, and Grispe leads the team in his own way, as does Iguodala. They’ve already sensed the problems and are determined not to repeat them, and that mentality is very important. Ryan Dunn has also been performing well lately, not just in one game. Rahil Fleming is also constantly improving. We will correct some defensive mistakes, and he has the potential to become a top defensive player.”
Jordan Ott said, "The team's improvement may come from more time to gel, allowing other players to initiate offense and force opponents to adjust their defense. I also spoke specifically with Jalen Green about how to handle situations where the opponent's defense is not yet settled. His ability to penetrate allows him to take on almost any defender one-on-one, which is an improvement."
“We know where we stand and how to win. The locker room is full of belief, leadership, and high-quality players. We feel this atmosphere every day, which isn’t found everywhere. We are grateful for it and hope to continue to deliver performances that make our fans proud.”
In addition, Jordan Ott said, "His control of the game is one of the best I've ever seen, and he knows when to be more aggressive. He trusts his teammates, always makes the right choices, and that paid off in this game."
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