1997–98 Phoenix Suns season
Suns finish 56–26, lose in first round to Spurs.
The 1997–98 Phoenix Suns season was the 30th for the franchise in the National Basketball Association. The team added Antonio McDyess, Clifford Robinson, and George McCloud during the offseason, and later traded Cedric Ceballos for Dennis Scott. Under head coach Danny Ainge, the Suns finished with a 56–26 record and qualified for the playoffs for the tenth consecutive year.
Quick Facts
- Team
- Phoenix Suns
- End year
- 1998
- Wins
- 56
- Losses
- 26
- Division
- pacific
- Division place
- 3rd
- Coach
- Danny Ainge
- Owner
- Jerry Colangelo
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The Suns drafted future star Stephen Jackson but waived him before the season.
- Center Mike Brown did not play in any regular season games but was re-signed on April 18, 1998, and appeared in one playoff game.
- Center Loren Meyer missed the entire regular season due to a back injury and was on the injured reserve list.
Playoffs
The Suns entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference and faced the fifth-seeded San Antonio Spurs. In game one, Tim Duncan scored 28 second-half points to lead the Spurs to a 102–96 upset in Phoenix. The Suns evened the series with a 108–101 win in game two, as Antonio McDyess posted 21 points and 11 rebounds and held Duncan to 16 points with six turnovers. Duncan, on the night he received the Rookie of the Year Award, recorded 22 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks in game three, leading the Spurs to a 100–88 victory and a 2–1 series lead. The Spurs clinched the series 3–1 in San Antonio, behind 30 points from Avery Johnson, 21 rebounds from David Robinson, and 6 blocks from Duncan. McDyess pulled down 19 rebounds but shot 5 of 14 from the field, while Kevin Johnson led the Suns with 18 points in the 99–80 loss.
More in 1997–98 NBA Season by Team
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