Phoenix Suns’ Ryan Dunn locks up LeBron James
3 HRS AGO - Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Yep. He put him in the Dunngeon. The legend of Ryan Expand
3 HRS AGO - Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Yep. He put him in the Dunngeon. The legend of Ryan Dunn continues.
When the Phoenix Suns selected their rookie with the 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, we expected a defensive boost, an element this offense-driven team needed. But I don’t think any of us anticipated just how quickly he’d make his presence felt. Four games into the 2024-25 season, his impact is undeniable, not only for the team but also for every opponent he’s defended.
In just four games, Dunn has already compiled an impressive list of high-profile players he’s defended. MVP favorite Luka Doncic. Former MVP James Harden. GCOAT LeBron James (yeah, that’s not a typo...“Greatest Career of All-Time”).
Last night, as the Suns entered the second quarter down by 9 points — after trailing by as much as 18 in the first — it was Ryan Dunn’s entry into the lineup that shifted the momentum. Phoenix, initially flat on both ends, came alive when Dunn hit the court, bringing the kind Collapse
Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns vs. Lakers Post Game Pod
16 HRS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. It’s the Lakers...again!
Click the Expand
16 HRS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. It’s the Lakers...again!
Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
Click the BELL to turn on notifications.
Watch right here!
Not much of a video person? Like to listen to your podcasts? Here it is in audio form:
Follow John (@DarthVoita), Matthew (@MatthewLissy), and the podcast (@SunsJAM) on Twitter
Watch livestreams on the Suns JAM Session YouTube channel
Link to podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3l0XsD7
Link to podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kSgP0P
If you use one of those platforms, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.
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Tracking 40, Week 1: Suns enter the “Bud Zone” with increased three-point volume
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
We knew the threes were coming—and they Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
We knew the threes were coming—and they certainly arrived. 40%. It’s the number I mentioned earlier this month as one to watch closely this season, and I’ve decided to create a series to track the Suns’ progress against this target. The goal? To see how the Phoenix Suns are performing in relation to their preseason objective of increasing three-point attempts.
Each week, we’ll take a look at how the Suns are performing from beyond the arc. Sure, we’d love to see the team shoot 40% from three, but that is an anomaly. How many teams have shot over 40% from three-point range as a team for an entire season? Six.
1996-97 Chicago Bulls: 42.8%
2015-16 Golden State Warriors: 41.6%
2009-10 Phoenix Suns: 41.2%
2000-01 San Antonio Spurs: 40.7%
1995-96 Chicago Bulls: 40.3%
2003-04 Sacramento Kings: 40.1%
It’s a hard number to get to. For comparison, 15 teams have shot between 39.0% and 39.9% in NBA history, with the Suns doing it 4 of those Collapse
Valley Suns announce 2024-25 Training Camp roster
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images
The Valley Suns training camp roster stands Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images
The Valley Suns training camp roster stands at 17 players. The Valley Suns, the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, announced their training camp roster of 17 players via media release.
The Valley Suns have announced their training camp roster. They enter camp with these 17 players. *denotes a Two-Way contract pic.twitter.com/GR1UxZuOkO— Zona (@AZSportsZone) October 27, 2024
Yes, that is the son of John Stockton you see there.
The roster includes the three two-way contracts of Collin Gillespie, Jalen Bridges, and Ty-Ty Washington Jr. The Valley Suns opening night roster will feature 12 players, including three two-way players.
The Valley Suns have been aggressive on the trade market and filled their roster with guys they are looking to develop into potential rotation pieces. There are some interesting pieces there that we will track for you here at Bright Side throughout the year, including the two-ways.
Their Collapse
Game Recap: Suns rebound strong with a win against the Mavericks 114-102
2 DAYS AGO - Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns welcome the new season at Footprint center with a Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Suns welcome the new season at Footprint center with a victory. The Phoenix Suns managed to hold off Luka Doncic (40 points) and the Dallas Mavericks, securing a win 114-102 that brings them to a 2-1 record to start the season.
Kevin Durant was stellar, to say the least, finishing the game with 31 points. With help from Jusuf Nurkic, who contributed 18 points and 14 rebounds, the Suns appear to be back on track after a rough loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Without Beal, the Suns effectively shared the ball and received contributions from all over the floor, although Devin Booker is still searching for his shot. Despite this, the Suns seemed to find their stride on Saturday night, showcasing their depth and versatility. The team’s ability to adapt in Beal’s absence bodes well for their chemistry moving forward.
First Half
After the Phoenix Suns started 0-3 from the field at the hands of Jusuf Nurkic, they managed to knock down six Collapse
Game Preview: Phoenix Suns open their home schedule against the Dallas Mavericks
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Can the Suns rebound after a heartbreaking loss to the Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Can the Suns rebound after a heartbreaking loss to the Lakers? Who: Dallas Mavericks (1-0) @ Phoenix Suns (1-1)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Footprint Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns are set to open their home season at Footprint Center against the Dallas Mavericks, hoping to rebound after a tough 116-113 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. While going 82-0 is out of the question, bouncing back after a close game like Friday’s is crucial, especially as they showed glimpses of last season’s highs and lows. Facing a Mavericks team that’s looking strong and hungry, the Suns will need to tighten up defensively and bring their best effort to avoid a second straight loss.
For the Suns, this matchup is more than just another game—it’s an early-season test to see if they can maintain the intensity and cohesion required to compete at the top of the Collapse
Why are the Suns already struggling? Size, rebounding, and defense...oh my!
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
We were aware of the potential issues entering the season Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
We were aware of the potential issues entering the season and hoped they wouldn’t come to fruition. Yet, against two subpar L.A. teams, those concerns have surfaced. The Lakers. The Clippers. Before the season started, these two teams were expected to have down years. While competitiveness is a given, a Phoenix Suns roster — newly shaped and led by an offense-oriented head coach — should ideally have no trouble against either Los Angeles squad. Yet, after a road trip to the City of Angels, the Suns have already raised some concerns.
The team scored 116 points in both games, one ending in a victory and the other in a loss. The win? They trailed by ten points in the fourth quarter and needed everything to fall in their favor to pull off an overtime comeback. The loss? Despite holding a 22-point lead, they fell into a pattern of fouls, turnovers, and complacency, allowing the Lakers to mount a comeback.
“It’s super frustrating,” Bradley Beal said Collapse
Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (1-1) @ Lakers Post Game Pod
3 DAYS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. Hang an L in the standings as the Expand
3 DAYS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. Hang an L in the standings as the Suns, after going up 22, fall apart and lose to LA.
Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
Click the BELL to turn on notifications.
Watch right here!
Not much of a video person? Like to listen to your podcasts? Here it is in audio form:
Follow John (@DarthVoita), Matthew (@MatthewLissy), and the podcast (@SunsJAM) on Twitter
Watch livestreams on the Suns JAM Session YouTube channel
Link to podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3l0XsD7
Link to podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kSgP0P
If you use one of those platforms, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.
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Suns rookies Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro reliable in NBA debuts with limited minutes
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
It’s only a matter of time before the rookies Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
It’s only a matter of time before the rookies are giving Mike Budenholzer no choice but to play them. I cannot express the content feeling that entered my heart when Phoenix Suns first-round rookie Ryan Dunn shot an off-the-dribble jumper from a Miles Plumlee dribble-handoff on his first possession in the NBA.
It didn’t go in, but Dunn’s shooting profile at Virginia ranged from conservative to hesitant, so this display of willingness and decisiveness was a welcome one considering the hope that his preseason performance instilled.
It was part of a tight overtime win on Wednesday, 116-113, over the Los Angeles Clippers in the new Intuit Dome.
That content feeling stuck around as he first took the defensive assignment of James Harden, who was quickly subbed out and shifted Dunn’s assignment to shifty guard Kevin Porter Jr. He had nice moments against both throughout the game.
Ryan Dunn sequence locking up Harden then scoring on a Collapse
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Valley Suns announce their new mascot
7 HRS AGO - Everyone, meet Ray! Every team needs a mascot, right? The Valley Suns agree. Landing on Earth Expand
7 HRS AGO - Everyone, meet Ray! Every team needs a mascot, right? The Valley Suns agree. Landing on Earth yesterday, meet the Valley Suns’ Mascot, Ray!
Born on the Sun, his favorite TV show is Everybody Loves Raymond. His best friends are the Suns’ and Mercury’s mascots, Scorch and the Gorilla. Ray is a blazing 10 Trillion Degrees!
Unsurprisingly, his favorite song is Natasha Bedingfield’s Pocketful of Sunshine, which he’ll surely have a lot of opportunities to listen to around the Valley’s basketball team.
Expect to see Ray at the G-League team’s first-ever home game on Monday, November 11, where he’ll start a season of passionate support and love for the Valley Suns.
meet ☄️straight from the sun, he’s ready to bring the heat for Valley Suns basketball pic.twitter.com/Qq4lNRGkbv— Valley Suns (@GLeagueSuns) October 28, 2024
Ray will have to prove to fans that he brings the BOOM like Phoenix Suns play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Ray does!
the gang’s all here @Suns x @PhoenixMercury Collapse
Open Thread: Suns (2-1) versus Lakers (3-0)
19 HRS AGO - Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Will the Suns hand the Lakers their first loss of the season? Expand
19 HRS AGO - Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
Will the Suns hand the Lakers their first loss of the season? Game 4.
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Head over to playback.tv and create an account with your email address
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The ‘Something, Nothing, and Everything’ in the Suns’ first week of the season
1 DAY AGO - Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What’s noteworthy, and what’s not so far. Week one of the Expand
1 DAY AGO - Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
What’s noteworthy, and what’s not so far. Week one of the Suns 2024-25 regular season campaign is officially in the books. They beat the Los Angeles Clippers on their opening night, lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, and beat the Dallas Mavericks 114-102 Saturday night. All three of their games were against playoff teams from a year ago; they were favored in just one of their contests.
It’s only one week of the season, but the analysis has to start somewhere! Here’s the something, nothing, and everything from the Suns’ first week of the season.
Something
Ryan Dunn’s continued solid three-point shooting.
After an impressive preseason where he hit more threes in five games than he did in his 65 games in college, the rookie continued his sharpshooting. In his first start of his career on Saturday, he made three of his six triples.
Ryan Dunn with 13 points while going 5-for-8 from the floor.He's looking confident on the one-dribble pull-up Collapse
Durant’s 29,000 Points: A milestone and a beacon for the Suns’ offense
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
If you’re having scoring problems, I feel bad for Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
If you’re having scoring problems, I feel bad for you son. KD’s got 99 problems but his jumper ain’t one. Hit me. It’s been a sluggish start for the Phoenix Suns as they search for ways to consistently fire on all cylinders. Despite the sputtering, the team is 2-1 to start the season following a 114-102 win over the Mavericks. It’s understandable. The team is adjusting to the new Mike Budenholzer system, all while trying to figure out their defensive schemes.
One player who hasn’t had any issues, outside of a few turnovers in the first game of the season, is Kevin Wayne Durant.
Durant is averaging 28.7 points through the Suns’ first three games, doing so on 52.7% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 80% from the line. He is, in every sense of the word, a walking bucket. There is no hitch in his game, no warmup time needed, no adjustment to the players around him. Simply bounce him the basketball and let him hoop. And hoop Collapse
Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns vs. Mavs Post Game Pod
2 DAYS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. It’s the home opener for the Suns! Expand
2 DAYS AGO - The original Phoenix Suns post game podcast on Planet Purple. It’s the home opener for the Suns! They need a win to reset the mojo in Phoenix.
Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
Click the BELL to turn on notifications.
Watch right here!
Not much of a video person? Like to listen to your podcasts? Here it is in audio form:
Follow John (@DarthVoita), Matthew (@MatthewLissy), and the podcast (@SunsJAM) on Twitter
Watch livestreams on the Suns JAM Session YouTube channel
Link to podcast on Apple: https://apple.co/3l0XsD7
Link to podcast on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kSgP0P
If you use one of those platforms, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.
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Valley Suns select Nate Roberts, Olin Carter III in 2024 NBA G League Draft
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Plus, former Suns Landry Shamet, Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Plus, former Suns Landry Shamet, Chandler Hutchison selected top 5 The Valley Suns continued building out their roster for their inaugural season as the NBA G League affiliate of the Phoenix Suns, making two selections Saturday in the G League Draft.
With the 19th pick, the Suns chose former Washington Huskies big man Nate Roberts, who most recently played 10 games for the Motor City Cruise in last year’s Showcase Cup.
The 6-foot-11 Roberts started all 58 games he played over his last two seasons at Washington from 2020-22, averaging 5.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game.
In the second round, the 50th pick netted the Suns guard Olin Carter III, who played 19 regular season games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce last year after playing collegiately for San Diego.
Carter started 10 of 19 games with the Skyforce, averaging 9.9 points and 1.5 assists to 0.7 turnovers on underwhelming shooting (29.3% on Collapse
Charles Barkley reflects on his final conversation with Al McCoy
3 DAYS AGO - Before he passed, McCoy wanted to talk to two Suns’ players. The Phoenix Suns 2024-25 campaign has Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Before he passed, McCoy wanted to talk to two Suns’ players. The Phoenix Suns 2024-25 campaign has officially begun, as the team now has two games underneath their belt.
This season carries with it a sense of hope, opportunity, and promise, but it’s also marked by a poignant absence. It’s the first year that legendary broadcaster Al McCoy won’t witness. Al passed away this past summer at the age of 91, after calling Suns games for 51 of those years. Every time Phoenix steps on the court, we’ll be reminded of him. To honor his legacy, the team will wear a black ribbon on their left chest, adorned with two letters that mean everything to the organization and its fans: “AL.”
Wednesday, Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta from Arizona Sports 98.7 had the chance to interview Charles Barkley ahead of the Suns’ season. Chuck, who played four years in Phoenix and proudly refers to the team as “my Suns,” shared his reflections on Al McCoy’s passing and what it meant to have one last conversation Collapse
Kenya’s biggest Phoenix Suns fan: Hussein Siro
4 DAYS AGO - If you haven’t heard this story, get ready to feel good! During my time covering the Suns, I have Expand
4 DAYS AGO - If you haven’t heard this story, get ready to feel good! During my time covering the Suns, I have met amazing people and made some true friends. I have never encountered someone like Hussein Siro. His passion for OUR team and his dedication to reaching out to people like @SunsUniTracker and @DevinBook made his journey possible.
This is a 21-year-old, highly intelligent, and very well-mannered young man who captured my heart. All he ever wanted was one piece of Phoenix Suns merchandise, which is very hard to get in Nairobi, Kenya. Being 9,433 miles from the Valley makes it tough.
The Phoenix Suns community rallied together to send Siro not one, but two Suns’ jerseys. That’s where Siro’s journey began. A A Devin Booker Icon Edition jersey and a Mikal Bridges Classic Edition jersey made their way to Siro, thanks to the Suns community. Since then, with a big push from Suns Uni Tracker, the fanbase has also sent him a pair of Book 1 Pythons.
He caught my personal attention as I was Collapse
Game Recap: Suns Escape from L.A., winning 116-113 in season opener against Clippers
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t pretty. But it was Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t pretty. But it was a win. The Phoenix Suns season opener. When the unrelenting heat was beating down upon us this past summer, I never thought we’d get here. But here we are.
Phoenix opened the season against the Los Angeles Clippers, marking the inaugural game in the $2 billion Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Suns christened the arena with a hard-fought victory, edging out the Clippers 116-113 in overtime.
The game was sloppy at times, with Phoenix turning the ball over 23 times and getting dominated in the paint, where they were outscored 62-42 and surrendered 13 offensive rebounds. Despite these challenges, Kevin Durant led the team in scoring with 25 points, although he also had 7 turnovers. Devin Booker contributed just 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth, but Bradley Beal stepped up with 24 points—7 of which came in the crucial fourth quarter—serving as the team’s saving grace.
For the Collapse
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Game Recap: Suns have their first winning streak of the season, beating the Lakers 109-105
16 HRS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Phoenix is developing an identity, and it’s on Expand
16 HRS AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Phoenix is developing an identity, and it’s on the defensive end. The Phoenix Suns now find themselves at 3-1 on the season after a win against the Los Angeles Lakers. It was the second time they played the team in four days, and after losing on Friday, they backed it up with a 109-105 win in front of a sold-out Footprint Center. The team has their first winning streak of the season after downing the Mavs on Saturday.
The Lakers led by as much as 18 as Anthony Davis imposed his will early, playing Jusuf Nurkic off the court. But Phoenix upped their defensive intensity and outscored Los Angeles 101-79 after being down 18 points.
Phoenix was led by 33 points from Devin Booker, who went 11-of-23 on the night, including 3-of-8 from deep. Kevin Durant added 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, and Bradley Beal had 15 points. So that’s — punches calculator — 78 points from the Big Three.
Anthony Davis was his typical beast self, scoring 29 Collapse
Game Preview: The Suns play the Lakers...again!
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
It’s the second time in three games. Can Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
It’s the second time in three games. Can Phoenix make amends? Who: Phoenix Suns (2-1) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (3-0)
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: NBATV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
We are less than a week into the season, and the Suns are playing the Lakers for the second time. After playing them twice in the preseason. I may be alone here, but aren’t you ready to see someone else? I feel like I’ve seen way too much of Austin Reaves this October, and it makes me uncomfortable. Ugh. Imagine being a Lakers fan.
The Suns enter 2-1 and their only loss was at the hands of the Lakers on Friday night, a game I assume many on the socials would like to soon forget. Not because of the game itself, but because of the way they were lining up to jump off a cliff after game two of the season. As Kevin Durant once told me: “Do better. Be better”.
So re-enter the Collapse
Ryan Dunn is not your typical NBA rookie
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Suns' first-round draft pick has looked like Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Suns' first-round draft pick has looked like the steal of the 2024 NBA Draft thus far. Ryan Dunn is shaping up to be a capable role player early in his NBA career. The 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft has quickly made an impact in Phoenix on both ends of the floor.
After shooting 43.3% (13/30) from three in the preseason, Ryan Dunn is at 46.2% (6/13) through three games, leading all rookies in three-pointers made. He scored 13 points in 21 minutes in the win against Dallas on Saturday night.
It’s not just about the shot falling, of course — his effort defensively and constant hustle jolt energy into the Suns’ defense. Some of the plays he makes may not show up on the stat sheet, but he is impacting the game in a variety of ways.
RYAN DUNN WITH THE PUTBACK pic.twitter.com/lR7FuzzfaL— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 27, 2024
The 21-year-old is averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 14.5 minutes per game through Collapse
The Suns' Fanbase on a Thread: Finding the balance between passion and panic
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images
Whew. What an emotional weekend that was, Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE via Getty Images
Whew. What an emotional weekend that was, right? The Phoenix Suns fanbase experienced a whirlwind of emotions over the past 24 hours—a stark reminder of the long journey that lies ahead for both the team and its supporters.
The Suns undeniably have a history scarred by near-misses and heartbreak. Heck, I wrote an entire offseason series on the franchise's “what ifs”. Season after season has ended short of the ultimate goal, with losses that have reinforced an “oh no, here we go again” mindset.
This lingering sentiment was on full display over the weekend. After the Suns opened their season with a solid win against the Los Angeles Clippers, they faltered with an off night in a loss to the Lakers, reigniting old fears and expectations. For countless fans, that loss felt like the breaking point, sparking an outpouring of frustration on Twitter. Two games in...
The Phoenix suns play basketball todayToday is a bad day Collapse
Open Thread: It’s the Suns. It’s the Mavs. It’s the home opener.
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
On a back-to-back. How rude. Need to get this dub, right?
Suns Planet Podcast: Suns Planet Visits Germany
3 DAYS AGO - Welcome to the Suns Planet Podcast, where 3 fans from around the globe bring together all of Suns Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Welcome to the Suns Planet Podcast, where 3 fans from around the globe bring together all of Suns Planet! Hey there Planeteers!
This week on the Suns Planet Podcast, we wrapped up the Phoenix Suns’ first two games of the regular season with our special guest @JWalker_NBA as we visited Germany and had a great time doing so. Why am I so hungry after that episode?
Watch Here:
Make sure to follow Jake (@FallenFounder), I.J. Hamilton (@SirHammo), Kevin (@imKevinPS), and Josh (@HuntStar05) as well as the podcast (@sunsplanetpod)
https://open.spotify.com/show/74y9BpBVR659cpaIX2Mi9H
The podcast is available on all major podcasting platforms. Collapse
Game Recap: Suns blow 22-point lead, fall to Lakers, 123-116
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have a lot to work on. The Expand
3 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have a lot to work on. The Phoenix Suns blew a 22-point lead to their rival Los Angeles Lakers in Crypto.com Arena. They will prepare for Dallas tomorrow in the home opener on short rest with plenty to clean up.
It started off like it was going to be one of those nights for the Phoenix Suns. And well, it was, but not in the way we hoped. They lost the turnover battle yet again and were outshot at the free throw line by 22.
Key Performers
Devin Booker — 23 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 9-21 FG.
Kevin Durant — 30 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds on 11-17 FG.
Bradley Beal — 15 points, 9 assists, 1 rebound on 6-14 FG.
Anthony Davis — 35 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists on 11-18 FG.
LeBron James — 21 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds on 7-13 FG.
Austin Reaves — 26 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds on 8-12 FG.
1st Half
The Suns opened up with a 16-11 lead after getting 12 points early points from Booker and Durant. They Collapse
Kevin Durant’s usage rate sparks debate after season opener
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns were falling back on familiar Expand
5 DAYS AGO - Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns were falling back on familiar patterns despite new additions. The 2024–25 Phoenix Suns season began with a rock fight against the Clippers. You could see that the rust was still present and it served as a reminder that no matter how many preseason games are played, they can’t replicate the intensity of regular season action. Phoenix, who was 10 down in the fourth quarter, came back and won the game in overtime, 116-113.
While there’s no need for overreaction, there’s definitely plenty to react to. The game took place, and as they say, every action prompts an equal or greater reaction, right?
My biggest takeaway from the game is that, despite the coaching change, the Suns fell into an all-too-familiar trap from last season: relying heavily on Kevin Durant in isolation playmaking situations.
Last season, the Suns lacked a true point guard in the traditional sense. Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant were tasked not Collapse
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