By REYNALD MAGALLON
Kai Sotto put up significant numbers in his first taste of NBA level competition as the Adelaide 36ers stunned the Phoenix Suns, 134-124 in the NBAxNBL preseason games at the Footprint Arena in Arizona on Monday, Oct. 3.
Sotto finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two steals, one assists and had the second highest plus-minus among the 36ers with plus-11 as he provided valuable minutes on the floor to give veteran players Daniel Johnson and Mitch McCarron much needed breather in good stretches of the contest.
However, it was the guards of Adelaide in Robert Franks, Craig Randall and Antonius Cleveland who did most of the damage as they left the Suns, led by NBA superstars Devin Booker and Chris Paul, trailing for the most part of the game.
Randall finished with 35 big points while Franks added 32 points on top of seven boards while Cleveland churned in 22.
Johnson added 15 while McCarron despite being held to just four points, stamped his imprint all over the floor with a huge 16 assists.
Phoenix was actually quick to display its pedigree as Deandre Ayton asserted his size early on to give the Suns a 20-14 early lead. Adelaide though started to hit its long bombs towards the end of the opening period to take the driver seat, 33-28.
Adelaide then stepped its foot on the gas pedal from there building a 15-point advantage, 56-41 after a Sotto free throw almost midway through the second quarter.
Phoenix, which obviously still not putting its best foot forward, looked like a different beast when Ayton, Booker and Paul were on the floor evident with their plus-11 efficiency despite the loss. In fact, it was actually the Suns trio that led a spirited comeback in the second half that saw them stay within striking distance before Adelaide delivered the insurance baskets late in the final frame.
With the win The 36ers became the first non-NBA team to win a pre-season game since Fenerbachce beat Brooklyn Nets in October, 2015.
Ayton and Miles Bridges finished with 22 points apiece although the former added six rebounds while the latter had seven boards on top of three blocks. Booker meanwhile finished with 13 points while Paul had only six points but with 12 assists across his game. Cameron Payne was the leading scorer for Phoenix with 23 points.
Up next for Adelaide are the Oklahoma City Thunder which will they play on Friday, Oct.7
