close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Suns’ Dunn wins over Mavericks
    news

    Suns’ Dunn wins over Mavericks

    Vaseline Posted on

    play

    Being unexpectedly asked to start in a home opener as a rookie is a big deal.

    Guarding Luka Dončić in that start is a tough task, but Ryan Dunn was not impressed.

    The Phoenix Suns rookie said he got the nod to replace Bradley Beal (right elbow soreness) in the starting lineup 20 to 30 minutes before facing Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks at the Footprint Center on Saturday. In the Suns’ 114-102 win, Dunn scored 13 points and shot a stellar 5-of-8, including three 3s, the Suns’ second-most from deep behind Kevin Durant’s four (team-high 31 points).

    “I just tried to stay in my role and not do anything crazy,” Dunn said after the game.

    Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Dunn’s defense and athleticism were positive in the win.

    Devin Booker (21 points, five assists) described the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks as a “crazy lineup” led by Dončić, Kyrie Irving and their new teammate in four-time champion Klay Thompson.

    “We all try to give him our two cents, but experience is the best teacher,” Booker said of Dunn. “He picks up things, he wants to learn and he pays attention. He normally doesn’t make the same mistake twice. That’s a mature rookie.”

    Since the preseason, Dunn guarded Dončić on Saturday and LeBron James twice, in the Suns’ first win over the Los Angeles Lakers and in their regular season loss to them on Friday. He also guarded James Harden in Phoenix’s season opener at the LA Clippers on Wednesday.

    Dunn said he watched film on Dončić and Irving, and asked the Suns’ veterans how to guard them and use his 6-7 height, especially against Dončić, who cleverly draws fouls on his penetrations and shots from outside.

    Dunn knew he had to be aggressive to some extent on defense against last season’s leading scorer, who led Dallas to the Western Conference title in 2024. Dončić had a game-high 40 points, 10 rebounds and hit 11-of-12 from the free throw line against Phoenix.

    Dunn committed five fouls, which he attributed to a rookie guarding the superstar.

    “I think some of them were Luka Dončić. I think some of them were rookie calls, but he’s a great player. I give him a lot of respect,” Dunn said. “I’m just watching film right now to see what I can do as a rookie to stop him and not get those five bad decisions like that, those cheap shots.”

    Durant praised Dunn’s aggressive effort against Dončić.

    “I just like his poise. I love that he is physical. I like that he actually makes a mistake,” Durant said. I’d rather you be physical, vent on the side of physicality and control yourself from there, rather than play soft and try to move up into physicality.

    Durant also praised Dunn’s offensive acumen that “got us going” to extend the Suns’ lead to double digits.

    Durant explained that when the Suns led by six in the fourth, Dunn’s “huge play” with a phantom backscreen for Durant then curled away to confuse the defenders as to whether to engage them. Dunn knocked down his 3 on a kickout pass from Jusuf Nurkić with 7:38 to go.

    Suns vs. Mavericks coverage: What we learned from the Phoenix Suns’ home opener victory against Mavericks’ Luka Doncic

    Dunn’s biggest highlight came early in the second quarter, during the Suns’ 16-6 run, which pushed their lead to 12. Dunn made an emphatic one-handed putback dunk on one of Durant’s eight missed 3s.

    “It felt good. I felt like I hadn’t dunked in a while, so it was just cool to pull one out and yell a little bit to get the crowd going,” Dunn said.

    Dunn’s three treys against the Mavericks and his three treys on triples Friday contribute to what many in the NBA media are labeling as a 3-and-D player and steal from this year’s draft.

    The Suns traded for him from Denver in exchange for 22nd overall pick DaRon Holmes II on draft night. Dunn was scouted primarily for his defense as a wing in recently retired Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s system. Before entering the league as a sophomore, Dunn shot 12 of 51 overall on 3s, including 7 of 35 last year. On the Suns, Dunn has let it fly with confidence, shooting 19 of 43 from beyond the arc since the preseason.

    Lakers coach JJ Redick joked before their 128-122 preseason win at the Suns on Oct. 17: “If I had known Ryan Dunn was a 45% (3-point) shooter, our draft board would have been a little different looked out.”

    Dunn has been compared to former Suns forward Mikal Bridges, who was drafted by Phoenix and quickly brought a combination of defense and scoring before being dealt to Brooklyn in the deal that brought Durant to Phoenix. He’s with the Knicks now.

    Dunn said during training camp that he welcomes that identity to start his career. Booker knows all about rookie comparisons and expectations.

    “I think any young player that comes into the league that can shoot and defend will try to get that title thrown at him,” Booker said. “You’ve clearly seen that his game can expand with Mikal, but that’s a good thing.” basic level to get into the competition and that is your responsibility. I feel like I had the same as a newcomer.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like