5 takeaways from Suns blasting Wizards after loss to Hawks ended 11-game win streak

WASHINGTON D.C. — Deandre Ayton put his headphones on after the morning shootaround with two thoughts.

"I've got to lock in, I played terrible last game," said Ayton as he exited the floor area at Capital One Arena.

Hours later, Ayton had a double-double by halftime in leading Phoenix to a 95-80 win Saturday night over Washington.

Ayton finished with 20 points and 16 boards as the Suns (42-10) bounced back from Thursday's loss in Atlanta that snapped their 11-game win streak.

The Wizards (24-28) are 2-7 in their last nine games as their leading scorer, Bradley Beal, remains out with a left wrist sprain.

Getting swept by Phoenix in the home-away series, Washington shot 4-of-19 from the field in the second quarter, missing all nine of their 3-point attempts, in falling behind by as many as 28 points late in the first half.

Phoenix's biggest lead was 36 points in the third quarter.

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Here are five takeaways from the game as Phoenix continues their four-game road trip Monday at East leader Chicago (33-19).

1. Ayton said he didn't sleep after Thursday's loss and watched that game twice.

He probably wondered who was the guy wearing his No. 22 that night in Atlanta.

Not only did Ayton score just six points Thursday night, he sat the entire fourth quarter as Suns coach Monty Williams chose to go small.

Ayton only played 24 minutes against the Hawks. So going into Saturday's game, Ayton knew in order to impact the game to his likening as well as the team's likening, he had to play with a higher motor that would also truly begin the process of getting back in shape.

So in his third game back after missing seven with the right ankle sprain suffered in the first quarter of a Jan. 16 win at Detroit, Ayton ran hard again and again and again.

Four minutes into the first, he was gassed.

Williams was more than fine with that. To him, it meant Ayton was playing hard and making the effort to extra improve his conditioning.

The Suns will likely practice Sunday after their starters sat the entire fourth quarter Saturday night.

So Ayton should get in more conditioning before the first of a back-to-back Monday at Chicago as the Suns conclude the four-game road trip Tuesday at Philadelphia (31-21).

He knows what's awaiting him in Philadelphia.

Joel Embiid. The leading MVP candidate.

The Suns can't afford him to play the way he did in Atlanta in either game or they won't finish this road trip to their liking.

2. The Suns had five players reach double figures with Chris Paul nearly posting a double-double with 14 points and nine assists.

Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson each chipped in 12 while Devin Booker added 11 on 5-of-14 shooting, seven rebounds and five assists.

With Cameron Payne (wrist) and Landry Shamet (ankle) still out with injuries, the Suns are thin in the backcourt.

So that led to Booker being in playmaker mode and Johnson, a natural three who plays the four, actually playing the two.

Both worked out.

Booker not only had five assists with one for a corner 3 to Johnson that Williams really liked, but he only turned the ball over only once.

As for Johnson, he showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and created shots for himself and others. Johnson's game just continues to evolve.

3. Listen, the Wizards didn't have Beal.

He's one of the game's best scorers, hands down.

So when Phoenix put the ultimate defensive clamps on them in the second quarter, Washington didn't have its guy who can go get a bucket or at least get fouled to go to the line.

Ayton said the Suns counted 12 defensive stops in a row.

Don't think that happens with Beal on the floor, but Phoenix certainly played much better defense than it did against Atlanta.

Yes, the Hawks are more explosive offensively, but holding a team to 51 points on 29.9% shooting through three quarters is pretty impressive.

The Wizards were 3-19 from deep going into the fourth.

4. The Suns are a league-best 20-5 on the road this season.

This clearly bodes well for them in the future, but they were the best road team last season with 24-12 record away from home.

Paul is clearly running the show. So he makes them a tough out on the road, but it goes beyond the play of their floor general.

The Suns have shot makers. Booker, Bridges, Johnson, Paul and Jae Crowder can all make shots to quiet the crowd and regain momentum or end momentum for the home team.

Great road teams live for the hush.

That didn't matter in Atlanta because Phoenix couldn't stop the Hawks as evidenced in giving up 124 points.

So without defensive stops, Booker could hit a jumper to temporarily turn down the roar of the ATL home crowd.

Trae Young and company just came back down and splashed a 3.

Two nights later, the Suns got stops, made shots and ran away from the Wizards.

5. Want to get back to Monday's game at Chicago.

Now Phoenix is considered one of the favorites to come out the West with Golden State being the other favorite.

Memphis is having a great year, Ja Morant has been special, but are the Grizzlies really ready to take those championship steps?

So they remain a wait-and-see.

Now Chicago is sitting here atop the East, but keeps hearing about everyone else.

Miami. Milwaukee. Philadelphia.

Even Brooklyn with its struggles is in the conversation to reach the finals because everyone believes the Nets will be fine when Kevin Durant returns from his knee injury.

So Monday is an opportunity for Chicago to show they're for real against the best team in the league.

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: 5 takeaways from Suns blasting Wizards after loss to Hawks