5 takeaways from Phoenix Suns melting down in loss at Miami Heat to end four-game road trip 1-3

MIAMI — Devin Booker’s final shot went awry at the buzzer to end Phoenix’s four-game road trip with a stunning 113-112 loss Monday night at Miami.

With time running out, Jimmy Butler blocked Booker’s shot with 6.2 seconds left. Booker retrieved the ball, but he was forced to heave a 26-foot fadeaway contested by Butler that misfired.

The Suns were outscored 22-2 at the free throw line as they attempted just four free throws, the second-lowest number of attempts ever in franchise history.

Phoenix was called for 22 fouls while Miami committed 10.

Bam Adebayo posted a 30-point double-double with 10 rebounds to lead Miami (7-7), winners of three straight. The Heat remain without Tyler Herro (left ankle sprain).

Booker paced the Suns with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Phoenix (8-5) led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter. The Suns have now dropped their last two to finish 1-3 on the road trip.

Here are five takeaways from Monday’s loss as the Suns return home to face defending NBA champion Golden State on Wednesday.

Before the final play

The Suns shouldn’t have needed a final play to win that late in the game. They led, 102-89, on Torrey Craig’s putback with 8:03 left.

So, Miami outscored the Suns, 24-10, the remainder of the game.

There were five lead changes in the final 1:38 as Phoenix took its last lead on a Cameron Payne bucket with 46.8 seconds left.

All the Suns needed was one stop.

They didn’t get it as Adebayo drew a foul on Deandre Ayton off pick-and-roll with 35 seconds left to give Ayton five fouls.

If Phoenix finishes that defensive possession with a rebound, the game is over.

Now the final play

Suns coach Monty Williams said the final play was screens for Booker and Ayton to put the Heat in a situation that may lead to a mistake the Suns could exploit.

Miami didn’t.

So Booker got the inbounds up near the halfcourt line. He dribbled towards the basket and found Payne, who got into the paint for a look.

With a cut over his eye on his eyelid, Payne had just made a shot to put the Suns up one.

He didn’t do it that time.

Ayton got the offensive rebound, but he chose to kick the ball back out to open Bridges. He had only taken one shot in the fourth quarter.

He should've taken another shot that close to the basket to possibly draw a foul. With three bodies around him, Ayton made the correct play to find Bridges, but maybe he draws a foul going back up.

Bridges caught the pass, but quickly kicked the ball back out to Booker.

Maybe he should've taken the open 3, but Bridges didn’t as finished 1-of-3 from deep.

All on Booker

With a timeout left, Williams said he should've called a timeout when Booker got the ball back, but he had just seen Booker hit a tough shot over Butler for an And-1 to give Phoenix a 107-103 lead with 2:43 left.

Still could’ve called a timeout, but Williams didn’t.

Then Booker had sized up Butler, one of the league’s top defenders — and competitors. Great matchup, but Booker moved the ball from the left to the right, that likely signaled to Butler he was going right.

Booker could’ve gone left, but he didn’t after carrying the Suns in scoring 10 of the team’s 16 points in the fourth.

Bridges can work his handles and be an improved shot maker, Ayton can post a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds and Payne can have back-to-back 20-point games, but Booker is still being asked to deliver at the end of close games.

The ball should be in his hands.

He’s being paid to come through.

Booker earned All-NBA first team last season, is Phoenix's franchise player and a superstar, but the Suns showed once again why they need need Chris Paul (sore right heel) to come back and play better and will miss Cam Johnson (right meniscus tear) for the next month to two months.

Having sat Phoenix's last three games, Paul is the ultimate decision maker, can create shots for others and has a history of hitting clutch shots while Johnson spreads the floor with 3s and has improved his overall offensive game.

Advantage Adebayo over Ayton

The numbers show it, especially at the free throw line.

Adebayo – 30 points (12-of-14 FTs), 10 rebounds, (plus-12).

Ayton – 16 points (0-of-0 FTs), 12 rebounds (minus-8).

They both play at a pace, a rhythm if you will, but Adebayo became more aggressive. That played a huge role in him getting to the line.

Now Williams already said he and Suns General Manager James Jones, who was in Miami, his hometown, for the game, plan to contact the NBA about the officiating.

They should have a long conversation with the league, but again, Booker is the only guy who really attacks the paint.

Ayton must do the same.

Without Johnson and Paul averaging a career-low 9.5 points a game, Phoenix needs Ayton to be more aggressive like Adebayo became Monday night.

Making 8-of-10 shots looks great, but on a night he had it going early, Ayton needed to double that number of attempts, especially if he’s not going to get to the line.

Bittersweet performance

Duane Washington Jr. got a haircut and then scored a season-high 21 points, one shy of tying his career high, with 16 coming in the first half.

With Payne in early foul trouble, Landry Shamet still out under concussion protocols, and Paul out, the Suns needed another ball handler and got that and more out of Washington, who had four assists to just one turnover in 19 minutes off the bench.

Don't let the two-way tag fool you.

Washington can ball, but he had just nine points total this season going into the game.

When a team gets 21 out of someone like that, that's an unexpected bonus.

The Suns must win that game. Period.

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns attempt just four FTs in 113-112 loss at Miami Heat