Tony Gautier

Following the Suns’ Game 1 win over the Mavericks, Deandre Ayton spoke of his team’s need to “break the dang gas pedal,” not letting up on their opponent.

Coming out of halftime down two points, the Suns did just that. Stomping their foot on the gas and never letting up in the second half of their 129-109 win over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on Wednesday night.

Using a 31-23 third-quarter edge, the Suns entered the fourth quarter leading by six and never looked back. Chris Paul and Devin Booker combined for 21 of Phoenix’s 40 points in the period, and the pair finished with plus-19 and plus-21 performances, respectfully.

Those two players dominated the second half, with Booker scoring 21 of his 30 points — he also had four rebounds and four assists — and Paul scoring 18 of his 28 points.

As a team, the Suns set a playoff franchise record by shooting an impeccable 64 percent from the floor (13-of-25 from 3-point range) and had four of five starters score in double figures.

Phoenix will travel to Dallas for Game 3 of their semifinal series on Friday at 6:30 p.m. MT. The game will be televised by ESPN.

Chris Paul: 28 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds

Devin Booker: 30 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds

Jae Crowder: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists 

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STRONG SECOND HALF SURGES SUNS PAST MAVERICKS, TAKE 2-0 LEAD

In the words of Jae Crowder, closeout games are the hardest to win in a playoff series.

That was fully apparent in the Suns’ Game 6 contest against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night as Devin Booker returned to the starting lineup after sitting out the past three contests.

Trailing by 10 at halftime, Phoenix rallied to take the lead with 6:09 left in the third quarter, though the Pelicans kept coming. They responded with a 16-11 run to close the period and held a 102-101 lead with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter.

But that’s when the Suns — who had the best clutch numbers in the NBA during the regular season — responded. Using a 13-8 run to close the game, Phoenix advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a 115-109 win over the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.

The Suns were led by Chris Paul, who finished with 33 points on an astounding 14-of-14 shooting that set a record becoming the first player in NBA history to make 13+ shots in a Playoff game without a miss. Per usual, Paul’s impact was fully felt in the fourth quarter, in which he had 10 of his points.

With the Suns trailing 100-99 with 4:15 remaining, Paul buried a key mid-range shot to regain the lead. He then sunk two free throws and a pull-up shot to give the Suns a 112-107 advantage with 28.7 seconds to go, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Behind Paul, Deandre Ayton finished with 22 points and seven rebounds on 10-of-12 shooting. Mikal Bridges had 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and Devin Booker had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in his first game back from a right hamstring strain, including a clutch 3-pointer to give the Suns a 106-104 lead with 1:42 to go.

Phoenix will have a few days off before it begins its semifinals series against the Dallas Mavericks or the Utah Jazz. If the Mavericks win Game 6 of their series tonight, Game 1 between them and the Suns will be on Monday.

Chris Paul: 33 points, 8 assists, 14/14 shooting

Deandre Ayton: 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists

Mikal Bridges: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Devin Booker: 13 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds

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DEVIN BOOKER RETURNS, CHRIS PAUL’S PERFECTION CLOSES OUT SERIES WITH 115-109 VICTORY

PHOENIX —  Entering a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday, Paul and others stated the Suns’ need to continue to stay aggressive, especially with Suns guard Devin Booker still out with a right hamstring strain. They answered in a big way.

Led by a rejuvenated performance from Paul with 22 points,10 assists and five rebounds, and a playoff career-high from Mikal Bridges (31 points on 12-17 shooting) the Suns took a crucial 3-2 series lead against the Pelicans with a 112-97 home victory at Footprint Center on Tuesday night. The Suns led the entire game and improved to 50-0 on the season when leading after three quarters.

Noted for his fourth-quarter scoring, Paul hunted for his shot in the first half, scoring 16 points along with six points and three assists. It allowed Phoenix to open its offense in other areas, as center Deandre Ayton also had 13 first-half points.

After struggling in the third quarter in previous games this series, the Suns narrowed the Pelicans’ advantage in the period to 32-30. Mikal Bridges had 11 of his game-high 31 points in the quarter and 24 in the second half alone.

The Suns then closed their victory in the fourth with a 12-4 run after New Orleans cut a 17-point deficit to seven.

With the win, the Suns will look to close the first-round series on Thursday in New Orleans. Tipoff is scheduled for at 4:30 p.m. MT with Suns Live pregame show airing at 4 p.m. on Bally Sports Arizona.

Mikal Bridges: 31 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks 4/4 3PM

Chris Paul: 22 points, 11 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals

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BRIDGES’ ALL AROUND GAME LIFTS SUNS TO 112-97 WIN OVER PELICANS IN PIVOTAL GAME 5

The NBA announced that Phoenix Suns center Bismack Biyombo is the winner of the March NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente for his dedication to bettering the conditions and overall livelihoods of individuals and communities in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo.&nbsp; The monthly honor recognizes a player who best demonstrates the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.&nbsp;

After experiencing the loss of his father in August 2021, Biyombo dedicated the 2021-22 season to him, choosing to wear no. 18 in honor of his father’s birthday. &nbsp;The loss made Biyombo recognize what playing basketball in the NBA truly means to him – an opportunity to give back and use his platform to impact the lives of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.&nbsp; As part of his intention to honor his father, Biyombo announced in March that he would contribute his entire salary from the 2021-22 season to establish and construct a new hospital in his native country that will improve access to better health care for generations.

“I wanted to make this year about my dad because he spent most of his life making his life about me, my brothers, my sisters and servicing people, and I've seen how people try to survive daily in the Congo,” said Biyombo about his endeavor. “I thought we were doing enough by refurbishing hospitals and clinics, but I think it's time we go a little bigger by building something that will service people, hopefully for generations."

Biyombo will be presented with the award on April 19 ahead of Game 2 of the Suns’ first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans at 10 p.m. ET.&nbsp; The NBA and Kaiser Permanente will donate $10,000 to the Bismack Biyombo Foundation as his nonprofit beneficiary of choice. The Suns organization will match this contribution.

The NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente honors the standard set by NBA legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.&nbsp; To learn more, please visit https://communityassist.nba.com/.

On May 3, the NBA will tip-off voting for the 2021-22 Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente, an annual honor for a player who has demonstrated a continued commitment to their community over the course of the season.&nbsp; The seasonlong winner will be selected from a group of 10 candidates – the off-season award winner, six monthly winners and three additional identified players – and determined by an NBA executive panel and fan vote.&nbsp; This season, fans will be able to vote using Twitter and Jebbit, a mobile platform specializing in data collection, for a period of 12 days from Tuesday, May 3 through Saturday, May 14.&nbsp; Additional details regarding the nominees and voting process will be announced in the coming days.&nbsp; To learn more about the NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente, please visit http://www.nba.com/communityassist/.

NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility program that brings people together through the game of basketball and helps shine a light on important social issues, including racial, gender, LGBTQ & health equity, education, physical and mental health & wellness, environmental responsibility, and youth, family & community development.&nbsp; NBA Cares programs and participants have provided more than 5.9 million hours of hands-on service and created more than 2,000 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in communities around the world.&nbsp; Internationally, NBA Cares has created more than 353 places where kids and families can live, learn or play in 40 countries and territories.&nbsp;

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.5 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to:&nbsp;kp.org/share.

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BISMACK BIYOMBO TO RECEIVE MARCH NBA CARES COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD

With the historic decision by the Arizona State Legislature and Governor Doug Ducey to pass legislation that legalizes fantasy sports and sports wagering within the state, the Phoenix Suns and FanDuel Group have announced a multi-year market access partnership designating America’s #1 Sportsbook operator as the Suns’ Official Sportsbook and Daily Fantasy Sports Partner. As part of this new commercial arrangement, FanDuel will open a luxury sportsbook retail location inside the Phoenix Suns Arena.

The legalization of mobile sports betting will forever change the sports and entertainment landscape in the state and opens the door for a fan engagement revolution that will be led by the Phoenix Suns, the Valley’s first major sports team, and FanDuel, the leading online sports gaming company in the U.S. and an Authorized Gaming Operator and Official Daily Fantasy Partner of the NBA.

“This is a watershed moment for the Suns organization and our fans,” said Phoenix Suns President &amp; CEO Jason Rowley.  “FanDuel is the perfect partner as our missions are fully aligned.  Simply put, FanDuel is committed to making sports more exciting while the Suns are focused on delivering exciting sports and entertainment and engaging fans at the highest level possible.”

“As we gear up to bring our best-in-class online and retail offerings to the state of Arizona, this is a momentous time for FanDuel, the Suns, and Suns fans alike," said Mike Raffensperger, FanDuel Group CMO. "We’re excited to open a luxury sportsbook within Phoenix Suns Arena, as the beginning of a long-term and innovative collaboration that will have a lasting impact on the state."

Official Sportsbook and In-Arena Wagering

Subject to regulatory approvals, the comprehensive partnership will include the opening of a luxury retail sportsbook inside Phoenix Suns Arena, further solidifying it as the Southwest’s preeminent sports and entertainment destination. The luxury retail sportsbook is expected to be completed in time for the 2021-22 NBA season.

Stretching over 6,300 square feet and outfitted with spacious lounge seating, the FanDuel Sportsbook at Phoenix Suns Arena will be fans’ one-stop-shop to enjoy Suns games and other sporting events around the world while placing wagers on the action. The FanDuel Sportsbook Lounge will be open daily for patrons to place wagers on a wide variety of events throughout the year.

In addition to a full-service ticket window and self-service kiosks within the sportsbook, fans will be able to place bets throughout Phoenix Suns Arena on their mobile devices during game days and other hosted sporting events. The Suns’ partnership with Verizon has allowed Phoenix Suns Arena to be equipped with the 5G Ultra Wideband network for seamless mobile transactions through the official FanDuel Sportsbook App.

Because of the ease and accessibility to mobile betting, Arizona has an opportunity to become a booming market for sports betting. Mobile sports betting has been an enormous catalyst behind the increase of interest and engagement around the country. With the added offering of mobile betting to fans in Arizona, fans from around the state can engage with their favorite teams wherever they are.

FanDuel will officially bring its industry-leading daily fantasy Sports product to Arizona later this year. Designed for the everyday fan, FanDuel’s fantasy sports app offers boundless options in daily, weekly or season-long contests with cash prizes.

Arizona sports fans can get started by downloading the FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy apps today on iOS and Android. Additionally, follow the latest news and updates around the Phoenix Suns by downloading the Official Suns App sponsored by Verizon.

As part of the partnership, the Suns and FanDuel will work together on a series of responsible gambling education activities to ensure Arizona fans enhance their sports experience responsibly. This includes media designed to encourage customers to gamble safely and within limits.  FanDuel is the only mobile sportsbook operator to sign on to the America Gaming Association’s national campaign to promote the fundamentals of responsible sports betting through their Have a Game Plan campaign. Through Have a Game Plan, FanDuel, the AGA and its other league partners provide consumers a state-by-state guide on where to find legal operators, spotlight the basics of responsible sports betting, and raise awareness on signs of problem gambling. FanDuel customers can also visit FanDuel.com/playsafe to use responsible gaming tools such as wager, deposit and time limits built into each app.

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SUNS AND FANDUEL ANNOUNCE ARIZONA  MARKET ACCESS PARTNERSHIP MAKING FANDUEL THE SUNS’ OFFICIAL SPORTSBOOK AND DAILY FANTASY SPORTS PARTNER

The health and safety of our community, staff and players are of the highest priority for the Phoenix Suns organization.  Since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership has worked with the City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the NBA to develop and implement the health and safety protocols that are necessary to commence play for the 2020-21 NBA season at the Phoenix Suns Arena. Unfortunately, due to the increased transmission of COVID-19 in Arizona, the Suns have made the difficult decision to begin the 2020-21 season without hosting fans at the Phoenix Suns Arena.  

“Our fans are the lifeblood of the Suns organization, and we want nothing more than to welcome our fans into our newly transformed arena in Downtown Phoenix.  The arduous choice to tip off our promising season without fans did not come easily,” said Phoenix Suns President &amp; CEO Jason Rowley. “However, we are exercising an abundance of caution and doing our part to maintain the health and safety of all our stakeholders during this crisis.  That said, we will monitor the best available date and science and continue consulting with health care professionals and public officials to help us determine when it is prudent to bring fans back to the arena.” 

The Suns organization will continue to practice and promote actions that limit the spread of the virus, including wearing masks, washing hands and practicing appropriate social distancing.

When it is safe to re-open our doors to fans, priority access to 2020-21 single game tickets will be available to PayPal SixthMan Members who have confirmed their membership for the 2021-22 season. To learn more and secure your priority access with a SixthMan Membership, visit Suns.com/Tickets.

Sign-up to find out more about PayPal Sixthman Season Ticket Memberships

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PHOENIX SUNS STATEMENT: FAN ATTENDANCE FOR START OF 2020-21 NBA SEASON

As the Suns continue their 2019-20 season schedule via NBA 2K20 live streams on Twitch, the team will now offer fans a new way to take in the action beginning with today's afternoon’s contest on the virtual hardwood against the Philadelphia 76ers. Play-by-play man Jon Bloom and color analyst Tim Kempton will make history as the first announcers to call an NBA 2K20 matchup on the radio, exclusively on 98.7 FM Arizona's Sports Station. The game will air at 6 p.m. immediately following The Burns &amp; Gambo Show.

Phoenix’s sophomore standout and Philly native Mikal Bridges will rep the Suns, while Sixers rookie Matisse Thybulle will man the controls for Philadelphia. After the matchup, Bridges will join Bloom and Kempton for a post-game interview to discuss the friendly exhibition.

Bridges is set to become the fifth different personality to rep the Suns on NBA 2K20 since the team began streaming games on March 13, joining teammates Ty Jerome and Frank Kaminsky, NFL star safety Tony Jefferson and professional 2K gamer Antonio Saldivar. Fans can visit Twitch.tv/Phoenix_Suns to tune-in to tonight’s matchup at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. 

The Suns will continue to give fans a virtual fix as the first NBA team to continue the 2019-20 season on NBA 2K20.  During this unprecedented time, the Suns social media team developed an innovative opportunity to leverage their platforms to bring the basketball community together and drive a positive conversation in the social space. The Suns are continuing to explore additional opportunities to create compelling digital content and identify new ways for Suns fans to engage with their favorite team over the coming weeks.

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Jon Bloom & Tim Kempton Set to Become First Radio Broadcast Duo Ever to Call an NBA 2K20 Matchup, Exclusively on 98.7 FM Arizona's Sports Station

As part of the Phoenix Suns’ “Rise Together” giving campaign, the Suns announced today a $1 million donation to the Valley of the Sun YMCA that will create an endowment fund to support programs and activities for children and families in need.  To commemorate the gift, the Suns commissioned the talented Tato Caraveo to create a mural at the Watts Family Maryvale YMCA that honors Horacio Llamas, who became the NBA’s first Mexican-born player as a member of the Suns.  The mural celebrates breaking barriers and hopes to inspire future generations that dreams are possible. Caraveo, a downtown Phoenix-based local artist and musician, has several whimsical works throughout the Valley that celebrate local arts and culture.

A check presentation and mural unveiling were held this morning at the Watts Family Maryvale YMCA. Video and images from today’s event can be downloaded HERE.

“As one of the oldest non-profits in Arizona and a founding partner of the Jr. Suns youth basketball league, the Valley of the Sun YMCA has been a tremendous teammate in assisting the community,” said Phoenix Suns President and CEO Jason Rowley.  “We’re proud to continue our support of the youth and families they serve and celebrate the opportunity to commemorate the donation with a historic and inspirational symbol of our team’s rich history.”

In January, the Suns committed to providing $10 million in community benefits to local non-profits and city programs in partnership with the City of Phoenix and as part of the “Rise Together” campaign, the Suns are funding and collaborating with vested community partners in education, social services, special needs, hunger-relief, housing, healthcare, elderly care, and public safety to address needs, engender positive change and elevate the quality of life in our community. 

“We are incredibly pleased and honored to accept this remarkable gift from the Phoenix Suns organization,” said Bryan Madden, president and CEO of the Valley of the Sun YMCA.  “With their support, we will be able to further serve the needs of our communities across Phoenix and assist hundreds of children and families with the ability to participate in our extensive variety of programs.”

In September, the Suns became the first professional sports team to assist Head Start, which was founded in 1965 and is the biggest preschool program in the country, with a $2.6 million donation.  The Suns have also previously announced major donations to the Back to School Clothing Drive, Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, Maricopa County Sheriff Office Animal Safe Haven Unit, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Fire Foundation, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, among others, plus funding for an additional 100 plus non-profits throughout the Valley.   

Since its inception in 1988, Phoenix Suns Charities has been focused on making our community a better place through its mission of supporting children and family services throughout Arizona and has distributed more than $32 million to local non-profits and organizations in need. The entire Suns organization has embedded itself locally by supporting community efforts through hundreds of player appearances and thousands of volunteer hours by Suns players and staff.

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Suns Award $1 Million to the Valley of the Sun YMCA

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