Monte Morris and Phoenix SunsDifferent backup level guard Collin Gillespie performed with an “further edge” of their 118-114 preseason victory at Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
This additionally applies to teammates Bol Bol and Mason Plumlee, who’re among the many Suns gamers who beforehand performed for Denver together with Morris and Gillespie.
“Each time you play your previous crew, you will have an additional chip in your shoulder,” Morris stated of Gillespie at Suns apply Tuesday. “I’m positive he felt that approach, similar to I did.”
Suns beginning middle Jusuf Nurkic, who was out for Phoenix’s fourth straight sport with an injured finger, was additionally with Denver from 2014 to 2017. He arrived in Phoenix final 12 months from Portland in as a part of a three-team contract.
Plumlee, a 12-year veteran, scored 4 factors and added seven rebounds and a steal in quarter-hour. Plumlee performed for Denver from 2017 to 2020. Three of the opposite ex-Nuggets scored in double figures and shot not less than 50% within the highway victory.
Along with Nurkic, the Suns’ different common starters didn’t take part within the Denver sport. Devin Booker was out with a sore ankle. Tyus Jones, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have been rested. They have been changed by backups Plumlee, Bol, Morris, rookie ahead Ryan Dunn and wing Royce O’Neale (17 factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, two steals, one block).
Monte Morris stated the Suns’ ex-Nuggets, together with himself, Collin Gillespie, Mason Plumlee and Bol Bol, had an “further edge” of their win Sunday at DEN. Jusuf Nurkic (OUT, finger) additionally performed for DEN from 2014 to 2017.
Morris additionally stated Ryan Dunn has the potential to be a top-5 defender within the NBA. pic.twitter.com/6CUZ7HcHWI
-DANA (@iam_DanaScott) October 15, 2024
Morris had 20 factors on 7-of-12 FGs, had 4 triples, seven assists and two steals, his greatest efficiency since becoming a member of the crew on a one-year deal final offseason. He was drafted by the Iowa State Nuggets in 2017 and was on Denver’s roster till being traded to Washington in 2022.
Bol scored 14 factors, hit 5 of 10, matched Morris on 4 triples, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and had a block. He was a second-round choose of the Oregon Nuggets in 2019 and remained in Denver till being traded to Orlando three years later.
Gillespie, one among three two-way gamers for the Suns alongside TyTy Washington Jr and rookie Jalen Bridges, scored 12, added six assists, a steal and a block with two turnovers in 22 minutes off the bench. Gillespie was signed as an undrafted free agent by Villanova in 2022.
Dunn tying Morris for the team-high 20 factors grew to become the most important story of the Denver sport, as he shot 6 of 11 from deep. It was Gillespie’s penetration into the paint and kicks to Dunn from past the arc that aided Dunn’s remaining three objectives from 3 late within the fourth quarter.
Ryan Dunn’s Nuggets capturing spree was largely resulting from Suns two-way PG Collin Gillespie, who assisted the final three of his six made triples.
Gillespie had his greatest preseason PHX sport (12p/6a/4r/1s/1b/2 TO) towards his ex-team, and his late steal in 4Q led to a 3 down from Dunn in transition. pic.twitter.com/YPPRCGSD9p
-DANA (@iam_DanaScott) October 14, 2024
“I simply really feel prefer it’s all the time enjoyable to compete with who you have been within the locker room, however his progress is unbelievable,” Morris added of Gillespie. “Him seeing me and Tyus go towards one another on daily basis and selecting up totally different stuff that he all the time has and placing it in his bag, that opens every part up.”
Morris stated final week that he “enjoyable” joking with Booker about their previous playoff video games and enjoying with Phoenix to date. Morris had simply as a lot enjoyable throughout the Suns-Nuggets sport towards his former teammates within the Mile Excessive Metropolis.
“It is good to see, man. Going again there to face Jamal, Nikola, (Nuggets coach Mike) Malone and people guys, in order that’s cool,” Morris stated.
The Suns will play their remaining preseason sport at dwelling Thursday night time towards the Los Angeles Lakers. The common season opens subsequent Wednesday on the highway towards the Los Angeles Clippers.
This text was initially printed on Arizona Republic: Nuggets’ former Suns gamers had an ‘further edge’ in Denver win
