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    • Fewer turnovers, Jusuf Nurkic appears in Sun’s home opener win
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    Fewer turnovers, Jusuf Nurkic appears in Sun’s home opener win

    Vaseline Posted on

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    Two immediate takeaways from the Phoenix Suns’ 114-102 win over Dallas in their home opener at Footprint Center: Phoenix took care of the ball and Jusuf Nurkic made Mike Budenholzer look like a prophet.

    The Suns committed 22 turnovers in their Wednesday opener, which led to 16 points for the Los Angeles Clippers, and 17 turnovers on Friday at the Los Angeles Lakers became 26 points.

    Budenholzer likes how the Suns try to share the ball, but he wanted better decision-making.

    “Making decisions,” Budenholzer said. “I think we just have to be smart. We probably need to be more aware of making good decisions, of reading well. Maybe don’t try to stuff it into little cracks. Sometimes just really casual turnover.”

    play

    Suns’ Budenholzer and Nurkic discuss the ethics and practice of teamwork

    Phoenix Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic and coach Mike Budenholzer discuss their value of practice and performance over making statements and promises to the media.

    The Suns made better decisions, shared the ball and didn’t give it away as much in the second of a back-to-back. They had only 11 turnovers, which led to only 11 Dallas points.

    As for Nurkic, he had a horrible game in Friday’s 123-116 loss to the Lakers, scoring just four points on 1-of-5 shooting, committing four turnovers and committing four fouls in just 18 minutes.

    Anthony Davis gave Nurkic and the Suns business with a dominant 35-point performance. The Suns finished the game small with Kevin Durant at the five – fully realizing Davis has a size advantage.

    After the game, Budenholzer not only defended Nurkic, but added, “He’s going to have his nights.”

    Nurkic had a much better Saturday with a double-double of 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 14 rebounds, both season highs, in 30 minutes.

    Nurkic started slowly, still missed from 3rd and the line, but was more active. He completed a dive to the basket and used his size to score on the more athletic but thinner Dereck Lively II.

    The 7-footer put up 12 straight points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field late in the second quarter, going 1-for-2 from the line and fueling a 66-53 Phoenix lead at halftime.

    In the second half, Nurkic came up with huge defensive and offensive rebounds in the fourth and delivered a dribble handoff to rookie Ryan Dunn for 3, giving the Suns a 99–90 lead with 7:38 to go.

    He then had a big block on Naji Marshall that was initially ruled a foul, but Budenholzer challenged the call and won it, giving Phoenix possession, up 108-100 with 2:29 left in the game.

    Nurkic played with a splint on his hand after missing most of the preseason with a left middle finger injury. Still had five turnovers, but Kevin Durant didn’t feel like they had doomed the team.

    Nurkic five was too much and he has to be better. He was better in every other area on Saturday.

    Do you have an opinion on the current state of the suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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