The Phoenix Suns got their best win of the young season Saturday night, outlasting the Houston Rockets 102-99 in a result that did more than just improve the record. It also put a spotlight on Ryan Dunn, whose performance felt like a turning point for a team that has been waiting for him to settle in.
Dunn’s night was about more than the two 3-pointers he knocked down against Houston, even if that was a welcome sight for a player whose jumper has long come and gone in streaks. The real number that stood out was his game-high plus-25, a sign of how much he mattered while the Suns built a big lead and then had to survive the pushback.
That kind of impact is exactly why Phoenix has stayed patient with him. Dunn entered the season with plenty to prove, but even back in preseason he had already shown Head Coach Jordan Ott that he could fit a roster that lost Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges may be the more accomplished scorers, but Dunn brings a different value: he is more willing to defend than Bridges and has a very different body type from Brooks.
What makes Dunn useful is that he understands his role. He is not out there trying to force the issue.
While Miles Bridges expects around 12 shots a game, Dunn works within the offense, takes what is available, and focuses on defending at a high level. That kind of connector is hard to find, and Phoenix does not have another player on the roster with his blend of length and skill set.
The Suns had already pointed to Dunn as the player who stood to benefit most from Mark Williams going down with injury before the season, and so far that has played out. He is not going to be a starting lineup fixture anytime soon, and there will still be rough shooting nights. But when he is on, he gives the Suns something they clearly need.
There is also a bigger-picture reason his role matters now. After Booker and Jordan Goodwin, who left and came back, Dunn and Oso Ighodaro are the longest-tenured Suns on the roster. Dunn has been around long enough to know what Phoenix needs from him, and right now he is delivering it.
He still has flaws, and he will probably remain a below-average scorer. But he is helping the Suns win, bringing a level of defensive effort that has stood out, and doing whatever Coach Ott asks. For Phoenix, that patience is finally starting to pay off.
In Other News...
Spurs Suddenly Face A Rotation Problem Ahead Of Suns Matchup
The Spurs will have to adjust their rotation on the fly when they face the Suns, after Devin Vassell was ruled out with left adductor tightness. Vassell has been one of San Antonios steadier contributors this season, averaging 11.9 points per game and playing a major role in the teams eight-game winning streak, so his absence changes more than just one spot in the lineup.
Julian Champagnie is expected to slide into the starting five in Vassells place, giving San Antonio a different look against a Suns team that will be paying close attention to how the Spurs cover for that missing scoring and spacing. For a club trying to keep its momentum rolling, the question now is how well the next man up can absorb those minutes without disrupting what has been working so well. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Dunn Is Giving The Suns A Rotation Boost They Need
The Suns have steadied themselves a bit after a 3-5 start, and part of that early bounce has come from a familiar young piece taking a clear step forward. Ryan Dunn, now in his third year, has looked more efficient on offense to open the season, while the numbers continue to back up what the eye test suggests on the other end: he is making a real defensive impact and helping the team function better when he is on the floor.
For a Phoenix group trying to build something more stable early in the year, that kind of rotation boost matters. Dunns growth has given the Suns another useful two-way option, and his presence has lined up with stronger team performance in the minutes he plays. If that trend holds, his role could keep expanding as Phoenix tries to turn its recent winning streak into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Win Streak Suddenly Puts One Tough Decision In Focus
The Suns uneven start gave way to a much-needed little surge in the third week of the NBA season, when they went 2-2 after opening 1-5 and finally snapped their drought against the Rockets since the Kevin Durant trade. One of the clearest changes came in the middle, where Phoenix swapped Khaman Maluach out of the starting lineup and turned to Oso Ighodaro at center, a move that has already shown up in the numbers with a positive net rating impact.
Now the bigger question is how long the Suns stick with that look as they head into four straight home games. The offense has also been reshaped by Dillon Brooks taking fewer shots, which has altered the balance of the attack in ways Phoenix will have to keep sorting out while the schedule gives it a chance to build on the recent bounce. [Read more 🡒]