As Joe knocked down the precise mid-range jumper, possession returned to the Suns.
Immediately after, Phoenix showcased another offensive approach they excelled at this season—transition Fast Breaks.
From out of bounds along the baseline in the backcourt, Ayton lightly fed the ball to Haliburton.
The entire Suns team then turned in unison and quickly pushed the transition.
Haliburton brought the ball rapidly into the frontcourt.
The moment he crossed half court, he immediately fired a cross-court pass.
The Basketball was delivered precisely into Booker's hands at the 45-degree angle on the other side.
After catching the ball on the move, Booker accelerated and drove toward the three-point line against Chen Xi.
Two steps later, he came to a sudden stop, spun around, and lightly tossed the ball forward.
Huang Zhong, racing in behind him, caught Booker's pass, then accelerated past two defenders and charged into the Knicks' paint.
He gathered on the move and took three steps, rising against Joe's defense. After briefly gliding through the air, he released the ball.
Joe seized the moment and jumped, trying to block it.
Unfortunately, he was still a fraction too late.
The Basketball had already been banked off the backboard and bounced into the hoop.
Two points. The score became 5-2.
More notably, Phoenix had needed less than eight seconds for that transition possession.
That absurd pace of advancement left people almost dazed.
It was as though the Run and Gun Suns that had swept through the league in the early 21st century had truly returned...
It was easy to foresee that if the Knicks were pulled into the Suns' rhythm in tonight's game, this contest could gradually turn into a test of the two teams' players' cardio.
On to the next possession.
The Knicks' offense.
Joe caught the falling Basketball, stepped