Phoenix Suns Conclude Summer League with Loss to Spurs, 86-81

The Phoenix Suns ended their Summer League journey with an 86-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas. This defeat capped off a campaign where the Suns posted a 3-2 record, showcasing a +8 plus-minus across their five games.

In the final matchup, the Suns were without key players Khaman Maluach, Rasheer Fleming, and Koa Peat, which opened up opportunities for others. Javonte Cooke and Devin Askew emerged as standout performers, with Cooke scoring 17 points and Askew contributing 15 points. However, Koby Brea struggled to make an impact, finishing with just 6 points in 20 minutes of play.

The game started poorly for Phoenix, who made only 2 of their first 14 attempts from beyond the arc, allowing the Spurs to establish an early 16-11 lead. Jameer Nelson Jr. led the Suns in the first quarter with 7 points, but the team trailed 23-16 after the opening period.

The second quarter saw a brief resurgence from the Suns, highlighted by Tramon Mark's two quick three-pointers that gave them a 29-28 lead. However, the Spurs responded with a 9-0 run, regaining control of the game. Despite some back-and-forth action, the Suns managed to take a 43-39 lead into halftime, bolstered by Cooke's 10 points and Nelson Jr.'s 9 points.

The second half proved challenging for Phoenix, as the Spurs outscored them 22-10 in the third quarter, leading to a 61-53 advantage heading into the final period. Although the Suns made a late push to close the gap, they ultimately fell short, concluding their Summer League experience with hopes of improvement heading into training camp.