Suns rookie Ryan Dunn steps up guarding Luka Doncic in win over Mavericks

Being a rookie unexpectedly asked to start in a home-opening game is a big deal.

Being assigned to guard Luka Dončić in that start is a daunting task, but Ryan Dunn wasn't fazed.

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

"It was just me just trying to keep doing my role, not trying to do anything crazy," Dunn said after the game.

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said Dunn's defense and athleticism were positives 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’re all trying to give our two cents to him but experience is the best teacher," Booker said about Dunn. "He’s picking up on things, he wants to learn and he pays attention. He doesn’t usually make the same mistake twice. That’s a mature rookie.”

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

Dunn said he watched film on Dončić and Irving, asked the Suns' veterans about guarding them and using his 6-7 length, especially against Dončić, who cleverly draws fouls on his penetrations and outside shots.

Dunn knew he had to be aggressive to an extent defending against last season's top scorer, who led Dallas to the 2024 Western Conference title. Dončić got the 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 a couple 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. "It’s just now watching film to see what I can do as a rookie just to stop him and not getting those five foul calls like that, those cheapshots.”

Durant lauded Dunn's aggressive effort against Dončić.

“I just love his poise. I love that he’s physical. I like that he’s actually fouling," Durant said. "I’d rather you be physical, air on the side of physicality and rein yourself in from there instead of playing soft and trying to move up to the physicality.”

Durant also praised Dunn's offensive acumen that "got us going” to extend the Suns lead to double digits down the stretch.

Durant explained that when the Suns were up by six in the fourth, Dunn’s “huge play” with a ghost backscreen for Durant, then curled off to confuse the defenders on whether to switch on them. Dunn knocked down his 3 on a kick-out pass by Jusuf Nurkić at 7:38 to go.

Suns vs. Mavericks coverage: What we learned from Phoenix Suns' win in home opener vs Luka Doncic, Mavericks

Dunn's biggest highlight happened during the early in second quarter during the Suns' 16-6 run that pushed their lead to 12. Dunn did an emphatic one-handed putback dunk off from one of Durant's eight missed 3s.

“That one felt good. I felt like I haven’t dunked in a little while, so it was just cool to get one out and get a little scream out just to get the crowd going," Dunn said.

The three made treys by Dunn against the Mavericks and his three makes on triples Friday add to what many among the NBA media are labeling as a 3-and-D player and steal of this year's draft .

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

Lakers coach JJ Redick joked before their 128-122 preseason win at the Suns on Oct. 17 that "had I know that Ryan Dunn was a 45% (3-point) shooter, our draft board would've looked a little bit different."

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 he was dealt to Brooklyn in the deal that brought Durant to Phoenix. He's now with the Knicks.

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

“I think any young player who comes into the league that can shoot and defend, they’re gonna try to throw that title on them," Booker said. "Obviously you’ve seen with Mikal his game can expand, but that’s a good base level to come into the league and that’s your responsibility. I feel like I had that same thing as a rookie, too.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns rookie Ryan Dunn steps up guarding Luka Doncic in win over Mavericks