Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams didn't want to make any major pronouncements about his team. Erik Spoelstra didn't hesitate.<\/p>\n
After the Suns put away the Heat for a 110-100 win Tuesday night, the Miami coach came away impressed with a Phoenix team that has won seven in a row on the road and 21 of its last 26 overall.<\/p>\n
"They're a damn good team," Spoelstra said. "The play-making they have, the shooting they have, the decision-making. They're extremely well-coached. The ball is in Chris Paul or Devin Booker's hands the majority of the game and they make very good decisions. They put you in compromising situations that are a little bit unique than what you normally face. And we're a good defense, too."<\/p>\n
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was just getting started after saying #Suns are “a damn good team” following a 10-point loss to Phoenix at home tonight.<\/p>\n
“They put you in compromising situations that are a little bit unique then what you normally face.” <\/p>\n
Suns 21-5 in last 26 games. pic.twitter.com\/kYKjhVu6WV<\/p>\n
The Suns have climbed into the second seed in the Western Conference with their torrid stretch, two games behind the Utah Jazz. While the second-place standing can be considered an overachievement this season, Phoenix has staying power at the top of the West alongside Utah and the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.<\/p>\n
The Suns have a veteran leader in Paul and a young star in Booker. They have a deep rotation mix of emerging complementary players like Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, and savvy vets like Jae Crowder and Dario Saric.<\/p>\n
Tuesday night, they built a big lead on the defending Eastern Conference champs and then closed the Heat out with the reserves when the score tightened. <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/03\/24\/USAT\/46f88a55-3fc0-4e2a-ab06-735bdc7416f1-2021-03-23_Devin_Booker.jpg?crop=3330,2203,x632,y42&width=540&height=&fit=bounds&auto=webp\")