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Suns rookies Ighodaro, Dunn tested against Knecht, Lakers in OT loss

Vaseline October 18, 2024

The Phoenix Suns had no answers for rookie Dalton Knecht in their final preseason game, a 128-122 overtime loss Thursday at home to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Knecht put on a shooting clinic and matched All-Star Anthony Davis’ game-high with 35 points.

The Suns squandered their lead in the second half when Knecht scored 20 straight points in the final minute of the fourth quarter and through OT. Knecht made six of his eight three-point shots between those periods.

The barrage included a 28-foot bomb to the 7-3 Bol Bol that tied the game at 113 by the end of regulation, three more triples in overtime to take the lead, plus his and-one layup and an assist on the Lakers backup. big Jaxson Hayes’ own and-one layup to seal the win.

Devin Booker (Suns team-high 22 points) admitted after the game that he wasn’t aware of Knecht until two weeks ago, after the Suns’ preseason-opening 118-114 victory over the Lakers in Palm Desert, California . Knecht, last season’s SEC Player of the Year, was selected No. 17 overall by the Tennessee Lakers, Kentucky’s conference rival Booker’s College.

“Unbelievable. He can shoot the skin off the ball,” Booker said of Knecht. “I didn’t know much about him until Palm Springs, but definitely someone I have my eye on.”

The Lakers didn’t need LeBron James to beat the Suns. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was rested and was seen advising Knecht on their bench going into the fourth.

“I would say when I completely took over, after I hit the first one on Bol Bol, I felt good and then I just kept shooting them,” Knecht said after the match. “In overtime, I felt good. ‘Bron and AD (Davis) said, ‘It’s time, so it’s just time to take over.’

“And shout out to my teammates. They were looking for me.”

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Suns rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro and Lakers second-round pick Bronny James Jr. (four points, two rebounds) were on the court during Knecht’s takeover in the fourth quarter.

Dunn (three points, four rebounds, one steal in 20 minutes) fouled out midway through the fourth. He scored 20 points, including six threes, in the Suns’ 118-114 win in Denver on Sunday.

Dunn’s only highlight Thursday came when he stripped Jalen Hood-Schifino in the second quarter and passed to Tyus Jones (11 points, five assists, three steals) to start a fast break that ended on a slam by Kevin Durant (19 points , eight assists). ).

“I shouldn’t have made a mistake in that match. … I would say Oso got mad at me for that,” Dunn told The Republic after Thursday’s loss.” But I give Dalton a lot of credit. He’s a great player.”

Ighodaro (six points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks in 24 minutes) came off the bench. One of Ighodaro’s blocks came from chasing Knecht’s fast-break layup attempt in the fourth. Ighodaro was part of a youthful lineup that included TyTy Washington Jr., Collin Gillespie, Jalen Bridges and Bol Bol. That unit played the entire OT against five Lakers rookie and second-year players, including Hayes, James Jr., Armel Traore and Hood-Schifino.

“Playing against a great team like the Lakers with a lot of stars, it was a great challenge for me and Ryan to be paired with those guys,” Ighodaro said. “We’ve done a lot of good things. We’ve learned a lot this preseason. We’re ready to go.”

Before Thursday’s game, Durant explained during the Suns’ shootaround how important the preseason is for Dunn and Ighodaro.

“The regular season and the preseason are two completely different monsters,” Durant said. “Those guys know not to get too high and not too low. Don’t get discouraged when you play bad. Don’t get too excited when you play well. Just keep stacking days and that’s what they do.”

Knecht felt comfortable from deep, especially after Suns coach Mike Budenholzer pulled all of his starters.

Booker, Durant, Jusuf Nurkic (15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks), Jones and Bradley Beal (13 points, four assists, five turnovers) left the game around the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter amid a Lakers 10-4 walk.

Budenholzer tested his bench to prepare them for the regular season, which starts next Wednesday in LA against the Clippers. Phoenix visits the Lakers on Friday.

“It’s great for those guys to get the experience,” Budenholzer said. “There are some things they can learn from and grow from, so I think sometimes preseason games are what delivers.

“Tonight they got into game situations offensively and defensively and I think they can learn and grow from that. It’s good for them.”