The Phoenix Suns have a chance to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Dillon Brooks scored 26 points and Collin Gillespie had 25 points and six assists for Phoenix in a 115-101 victory over the host Washington Wizards on Monday, extending its current win streak to four games.
The Suns also are 3-0 on a four-game trip that wraps up against the struggling Cavaliers, who have dropped two of their last three and are 3-5 since Dec. 14.
“We all feed off each other’s energy and give each other confidence,” said Suns shooting guard Devin Booker, who had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists at Washington. “If it’s not somebody’s night, we’re picking each other up. Those are all characteristics of a good team.”
Gillespie has been the catalyst behind the Suns’ last three wins, averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 assists and 1.7 steals. He also has made 54.5% of his 3-point attempts during their ongoing four-game surge.
The third-year pro, who went undrafted in 2023 out of Villanova before signing with the Denver Nuggets, is expected to make his career-high 14th start Wednesday. He is putting up 13.9 and 5.1 assists per game.
“When you’re playing with guys like Devin Booker, it makes it a lot easier,” Gillespie said. “Book has a lot of gravity on the floor, too.”
Gillespie has been nicknamed Dillon Jr. by his teammates — in honor of the ultra-aggressive Brooks — for his tenacity on the court. The moniker is flattering to Brooks.
“He’s Mr. Consistent,” Brooks said. “He’s been consistent every single night, every single day.”
Phoenix, which routed the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 132-108 to start its four-game win streak, has moved up to seventh place in the Western Conference. It is 1 1/2 games out of the final playoff position as the calendar winds down on 2025.
The Cavaliers sit a disappointing eighth in the Eastern Conference following a three-game trip that saw them blow a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and lose to the New York Knicks on Christmas Day.
Cleveland is coming home feeling better about itself after center Jarrett Allen racked up 27 points and 10 rebounds Monday in a 113-101 triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.
Allen, whose lack of physicality has drawn criticism, willingly bodied up Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama, who had 26 points and 14 rebounds, but was a non-factor late.
“We know when we slow it down, teams make us pay, so we had to keep running,” Allen said. “As long as we push the pace, we’ll be fine.”
The Cavaliers also overcame a season-low 10 points from All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, who had seven assists and three steals. Point guard Darius Garland was solid with 15 points and 11 assists.
“It’s just us getting back on track,” Allen said. “And trying to be the best team in the East.”
Cleveland will play its next three games at home with the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons following the Suns.
