KEY POINTS

  • The Phoenix Suns are on pace to secure the highest free-throw percentage in regular-season history with 83.3%
  • The only undefeated team in the NBA bubble is the Suns who are at 6-0
  • The play-in tournament will feature the eight and ninth seed battling for the final playoff spot

The NBA bubble continues to provide high-intensity basketball with the way the Western Conference standings are developing. In a highly unpredictable fashion, the Phoenix Suns have blossomed as the hottest team in the bubble and are on pace for history in terms of free-throw shooting percentage.

Led by their star Devin Booker, the Suns have captured the attention of the world as the most exciting team in Disney World. With their All-Star averaging 30.3 points and six assists per game in the bubble, there’s a lot to look forward to for this Phoenix squad. One of the main statistics that has kept the Suns as a consistent team is their free-throw shooting percentage. Boasting an overall percentage of 83.3% from the field, Booker and the rest of his team are on pace in defeating great teams such as the 1989-1990 Boston Celtics.

The Suns are the only undefeated team since the games resumed and are making a case for a potential ninth seed in the Western Conference. The tight race for the final postseason berth has been heavily contested among the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers.

But as Phoenix stretched their winning streak to six straight victories, the Suns have clearly garnered the momentum in the final stretch of the regular season. They have the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of them and would still require Portland and Memphis to lose once in the coming few games, per Bleacher Report.

It’s important to note that Portland has been one of the favorites to take a slot in the play-in tournament given how well Damian Lillard has been shooting from the field. While Booker has dominated their opponents, Lillard has been playing with the same sense of urgency as emphasized by his recent 51-point game.

The play-in tournament is set for August 15 where the eighth seed is needed to only win once to advance to the playoffs. If the eighth seed loses, then the ninth seed forces a deciding match to be played on August 16.

Devin Booker Phoenix Suns Luka Doncic Dallas Mavericks
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. Tom Pennington/Getty Images
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