The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks faced off for the first time since the Finals, and the Suns were amped up to send a message to the Bucks and the world.
An early three-point deficit became an 8-point Suns halftime lead, which ballooned to a 20-point lead after three quarters.
Deandre Ayton was excellent against the Bucks’ stubborn switches of smalls onto him in the post, scoring 27 points on 12 of 14 shooting by the end of the third quarter. He simply killed their whole switch-everything strategy to contain Chris Paul and Devin Booker.