Tre Johnson’s Career Night Not Enough as Suns Burn Wizards
The story of the night for Phoenix was the backcourt efficiency provided by Dillon Brooks and Collin Gillespie. With the Wizards focused on containing Devin Booker, Brooks found ample opportunities to exploit the defense, finishing with a team high 26 points. His aggressive playstyle set the tone early, but it was Gillespie’s sharpshooting that broke the game open.
Collin Gillespie, who has been a revelation for the Suns' second unit this month, poured in 25 points while sinking five of the team’s 17 total three pointers. The Suns' ability to stretch the floor (shooting 42.5% from deep) proved impossible for the young Wizards to counter. Devin Booker, playing the role of facilitator for much of the evening, added 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, ensuring the offense remained fluid even during high pressure defensive stretches.
Dominating the Glass: The 20-9 Offensive Rebound Split
Perhaps the most telling statistic of the game was Phoenix’s relentless effort on the boards. Despite missing center Mark Williams, who was serving a one game suspension following an on court altercation in New Orleans, the Suns outrebounded Washington 51-34 overall.
In the absence of Williams, Oso Ighodaro stepped into the starting lineup and anchored the paint with 10 rebounds. The Suns secured 20 offensive rebounds compared to just 9 for the Wizards, leading to a staggering 23-0 advantage in second chance points through the first three quarters. This physicality allowed Phoenix to maintain control of the tempo and stymie any momentum Washington attempted to build in transition.
Tre Johnson’s Historic Outburst
For the Washington Wizards, the primary bright spot was the play of rookie Tre Johnson. The first year guard delivered the best performance of his young career, scoring a career high 24 points. Johnson showed flashes of brilliance, particularly to open the third quarter when he knocked down a contested triple and helped the Wizards cut a seven point halftime deficit down to just two.
Alex Sarr followed Johnson’s lead with a quick runner to make the score 61-59, briefly energizing the D.C. crowd. However, the Suns responded with a championship level poise, orchestrating a 16-3 run sparked by consecutive long range bombs from Royce O’Neale and Collin Gillespie. O’Neale finished with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc (5-of-6 3PT).
A Deficit Too Large to Overcome
The Wizards, currently navigating a rebuilding season with the NBA’s second worst record (7-24), struggled with ball security and defensive rotations. While CJ McCollum provided a steady 17 points and the bench saw contributions from Jordan Goodwin (14 points), Washington lacked the veteran depth to match Phoenix’s late game execution.
Washington trimmed the lead to 92-88 early in the fourth quarter, but Dillon Brooks silenced the rally with ten points in the final period. A dagger long range jumper from Devin Booker with 2:43 remaining pushed the lead back to 13, effectively sealing the 115-101 final score.
Looking Ahead
The Phoenix Suns will look to finish their four game road trip with a perfect record as they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday. For a team that struggled with consistency early in the year, this four game surge has re established Phoenix as a dangerous contender in the Western Conference.
The Washington Wizards will head to Milwaukee on Wednesday to face the Bucks. While the loss is a setback in the standings, the development of Tre Johnson and Alex Sarr remains the focal point for the franchise as they eye the 2026 NBA Draft lottery.