Monty Williams wasn't sure how tough Phoenix's five-game road trip was from a historic perspective, but he knew it wasn't an ideal one.
"You'd be hard pressed to find many teams that have had to go out and play this kind of schedule, strength of schedule on the road," Williams said. "Back-to-backs. I think we've grown a ton on this trip. We've been stressed, which allows you to grow."
This was after losing two in a row, to Boston and East-leading Brooklyn, and before facing New York Monday, which had won its last nine games.
Monday's game also was the conclusion of Phoenix's second back-to-back during its week-long voyage against five of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference.