Suns become first team to clinch playoff berth

The Suns are headed to the playoffs. Now we just need to figure out who the 15 teams joining them will be.

Phoenix became the first team in the NBA this season to clinch a playoff berth Wednesday night. It came after the Suns cruised to a 111-90 win over the Heat, the top team in the Eastern Conference.

The game was actually close early, with the Heat even controlling the game for the opening minutes. They led by as much as 11 midway through the first quarter, but the Suns raced back to take a 29-27 lead at the end of the frame.

The teams went back and forth in the second quarter as well, with multiple lead changes and momentum swings unfolding. Tyler Herro couldn't get a shot to go in the final seconds of the quarter as the Suns carried a 57-55 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Phoenix was ready to lock up that playoff spot. A 12-3 run in the Suns' favor started things off, and they just kept swinging. By the end of the third quarter, Phoenix led 91-74, punctuated by a Devin Booker three with 2.3 seconds left.

Phoenix was able to simply throw on cruise control in the fourth and coast to the victory. The starters came out for good with 2:34 left to play, and the reserves carried the ship the rest of the way to a 21-point win.

Booker led the Suns with 23 points, and Mikal Bridges was not far behind with 21 and nine rebounds. Cameron Payne added 11 points and 10 assists, while JaVale McGee logged 11 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.

Duncan Robinson led the Heat with 22 points. Bam Adebayo and Herro both scored 17, while Kyle Lowry had five points and 10 assists.

The Suns advanced to 53-13 with the win and sit far ahead of the field in the Western Conference. Their current win percentage (.803) has them on pace to win 66 games, which would be a new franchise record.