THE Phoenix Suns might find yourself taking part in a five-game preseason schedule with out their beginning 5 of Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic all on the court docket collectively.
“We might like our beginning 5 to nonetheless be out there and wholesome, however it’s solely unhealthy within the sense that somebody is injured,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned after Tuesday’s follow.
The Suns will play their fifth and last preseason sport on Thursday in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers on the Imprint Middle. They are going to then have 5 days between this sport and their common season opener on October 23 in opposition to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“The great and the constructive is that different guys get alternatives and also you substitute all through a sport,” Budenholzer continued. “You play totally different combos all through a sport. You by no means need individuals to get harm, you by no means need to miss your beginning group, however you must discover the positives and discover the combos and do your finest and work with what you have got. »
Booker seems to be forward of Nurkic when it comes to returning to motion. The All-Star guard missed the final two preseason video games resulting from proper ankle soreness. The Suns confronted off on Tuesday.
“Devin was nice (Tuesday),” Budenholzer mentioned. “I feel he’s able to go.”
Nurkic has but to play in a preseason sport resulting from an injured left center finger, whereas Grayson Allen solely performed in Phoenix’s first preseason sport. He got here out with a sore proper Achilles.
“Nurkic, I feel, had no contact, didn’t play basketball,” Budenholzer mentioned. “He is doing an excellent job along with his health, however there’s nothing like taking part in basketball. And actually the identical for Grayson. He actually hasn’t performed basketball since (the primary preseason sport). I feel these guys, it is going to take them slightly bit longer, however (Tuesday) was an excellent first step.
Josh Okogie felt a pressure in his proper hamstring throughout Friday’s 109-91 loss to the Detroit Pistons on the Footprint Middle after seeing motion within the first three preseason video games. Okogie didn’t play in Sunday’s 118-114 win over the Denver Nuggets.
“He is nonetheless rehabbing, so he did not take part in follow (Tuesday),” Budenholzer mentioned. The Suns had Monday off.
Durant, Beal and Jones rested Sunday after taking part in within the first three preseason video games. The Suns performed 4 preseason video games in eight days.
“Anytime we get to play one other staff, it is a good expertise,” Suns level guard Monte Morris mentioned. “It retains us match and retains us transferring.”
Mason Plumlee began for Nurkic whereas rookie Ryan Dunn obtained the beginning for Booker within the final two preseason video games.
Dunn scored 20 factors, going 6 of 11 from 3, in Sunday’s beautiful comeback in opposition to the Nuggets, who confronted three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon within the second half.
“I labored on my shot rather a lot,” Dunn mentioned. “It was good to see the boldness in me take them and to see them are available, it was good.”
Dunn hit two dagger 3s within the last two minutes in serving to Phoenix maintain off Denver. He is now 12 of 27 on 3-pointers in 4 preseason video games after being 12 of 51 in two seasons at Virginia.
“Even the photographs I missed, I used to be joyful I made them,” Dunn mentioned of Sunday’s sport. “Some transitions 3. Some photographs that, though individuals would possibly ask, “What’s he doing?” “, however which got here out of my arms did me good.
Do you have got any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Comply with him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: The Phoenix Suns might finish the preseason with out beginning 5-man play collectively
