The Phoenix Suns continued their torrid run inside the NBA bubble with a 119-112 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday, improving their record to a perfect 5-0 in Orlando.
Phoenix's five-game win streak is the longest for the franchise since the 2014-15 campaign, and also a career-best run for centerpiece Devin Booker.
For Booker, he sees the Suns' latest stretch as a sign of things to come.
"I think this is just kind of a turning point for us. We had stretches in the season where we played very well, but as what happens to a young team throughout the season, you have your ups and downs," the All-Star said after scoring a game-high 35 points in the victory, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green recently implored Booker to leave the Suns, arguing that remaining in Phoenix wouldn't be "good for his career."
When asked about Green's comments, the Kentucky product was quick to quell any potential speculation about his future with the franchise.
"Since I've been in Phoenix, we haven't had the win success that we had, but the support's been there. And this is what we owe to the fans, we owe to the organization," Booker said. "It's been a long time for us and I think this bubble opportunity was big for us, and we're taking advantage of it."
Phoenix is hoping to prove this latest hot streak isn't just a quick one-off.
"A lot of guys grew up in these three or four months. It seems like a second season with all of them with the same coach, and it helps to see the growth with this team," point guard Rick Rubio said postgame. "We have more room to improve ... but we have eight games, and we know we have to go 8-0."
The Suns (31-39) are now just a half-game back of the Portland Trail Blazers, and two games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies with three seeding games remaining. Portland is currently positioned to face Memphis in a single-elimination play-in tournament to decide the Western Conference's final playoff berth.
