EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Phoenix Suns remained unbeaten in preseason with a 105-97 win over the Detroit Pistons Tuesday at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
Suns team owner Mat Ishbia brought his NBA squad to the arena in which he played college ball as a member of the 2000 national championship team.
This also was a homecoming for Devin Booker , who was born and raised in nearby Grand Rapids.
The Suns (2-0) led by as many as 21 points with Kevin Durant scoring a game-high 21, hitting 4-of-6 from 3. Bradley Beal posted 12 points, Royce O’Neale went for 11 while Booker and rookie Ryan Dunn each added 10.
The Suns generated 46 3-point attempts, making 16, cranked out 30 assists to only 13 turnovers and forced 20 Detroit turnovers that led to 23 points.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday’s game before a crowd of 14,901 as the Pistons were the home team. Their team owner, Tom Gores, also is a Michigan State alum.
The rookies: Dunn and Ighodaro Game 2
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game the team is “really encouraged” by rookies Oso Ighodaro and Dunn.
“How they’re earning their teammates’ respect, earn their coaches’ respect,” he said. “There’s a competitiveness, there’s an openness to learning and to asking questions. The work ethic, all the things I think the veterans look for in their young guys, I think these guys really have it. It carries over to the court. At the end of the day, you have to go out and play. You have to make plays, defensively, offensively.”
The Suns must really be encouraged after the way the two rookie draft picks played Tuesday.
Dunn: 10 points (3-of-5 from 3), four rebounds, two blocks, one steal and no turnovers in 17 minutes.
Ighodaro: Six points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks and three turnovers in 21 minutes.
That’s just the numbers.
Dunn played relentless defense on Cade Cunningham which left the Pistons’ best player frustrated on multiple occasions. His ability to play aggressively, yet disciplined and with instincts on defense is rare for a rookie.
The three 3s are clearly impressive for someone who struggled with his shot as recently as the summer league. He took them without hesitation.
On top of that, Durant was cheering his every move and giving him high fives. That has to send his confidence sky-high.
As for Ighodaro, he played physical inside in grabbing defensive boards, finished strong over the top with dunks and continues to show special passing ability.
Ighodaro was in traffic after receiving a pass from point guard Tyus Jones. On the baseline in the paint, the rookie found Bradley Beal with a no-look 3 to the weakside corner.
Beal knocked it down, showing once again his value as a catch-and-shoot guy from the corner.
“I know bigs that's been in the league 10 years who can't do that,” Beal said about Ighodaro’s pass to him for 3. “Just catch it in the pocket, take your time and look weakside."
Just preseason, but the Suns may have something with these two. They're playing with a high level of energy that a veteran team needs, values and appreciates.
Jones making everyone better
Jones is doing what he’s always done, but as Booker has said, he’s on a bigger stage for “the world” to see as the Suns' new starting point guard.
What Jones showed Tuesday was a typical assist-to-turnover night.
He had seven assists to zero turnovers and guess who else didn't have any turnovers? Booker, Durant or Beal. They have fewer ball-handling duties playing with Jones, but the ball is moving with all of them out there.
In the second half, Jones was making a move and found a cutting Durant for a dunk. After the game, Jones said it was "a feel," but both have to be reading the same thing to have that level of execution.
Jones' assist numbers will rise even higher once his teammates stop passing up 3s or immediately look to score once he finds them. He also knocked down a 3, which could become routine with the open looks he’s already receiving by playing with Booker, Durant and Beal.
The challenge for Jones will be on the defensive end in terms of when teams switch and he has to guard bigger guys, but he’s faced that obstacle his entire career.
Budenholzer liked how the team improved defensively from Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert .
Jones trailed on screens versus the Lakers. Didn’t have that same problem Tuesday.
Backup five competition
Jusuf Nurkic found himself dribbling a basketball in front of the bench during a timeout.
That’s a good sign for the Suns.
Nurkic has missed Phoenix’s first two games with a left middle finger injury. He’s scheduled for a re-evaluation this week, but the 7-footer could return by Sunday’s game at Denver.
The Suns play Detroit again on Friday at Footprint Center.
Mason Plumlee has started in his place and Ighodaro has been the backup big with Nurkic out. Plumlee was brought here to be the backup five, but Ighodaro is making a strong case for that spot.
Plumlee has the experience and physicality edge, but hasn't found a consistent rhythm within the offense.
He also had just three rebounds Tuesday. The 6-3 Beal, who is being listed as a forward, had six rebounds. Pistons' big Jalen Duren was doing work inside on the Suns too, with 17 points and five boards.
Ighodaro has a versatile offensive skill set, but he could be even stronger inside.
This is the one position for the Suns where it feels it could go either way.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin .
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns rookies Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro difference makers so far in preseason wins
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