The Phoenix Suns’ preseason opener didn’t bring a ton of surprises in the big-picture rotation, but it did offer a clear first look at how coach Jordan Ott is sorting through some crowded decisions.
Phoenix went 10 deep in the first half of Monday’s 109-107 loss to the Detroit Pistons, then sat its starters after the break. The first unit flashed plenty of cohesion right away, while the second-half groups showed just how much work still needs to be done deeper on the bench.
The most encouraging stretch came from the opening five of Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Oso Ighodaro. That group looked sharp together and helped the Suns build a 68-50 halftime lead.
The common thread was simple: pressure on defense, then pace on the other end. Phoenix defended aggressively, pushed the ball, and turned those stops into transition chances.
Bridges stood out in his Suns debut. He filled the box score and the eye test, finishing with eight points, five rebounds and four assists in 14 minutes while making his presence felt as a scorer, defender, rebounder and passer.
Booker added 13 points, while Green and Brooks each scored 11. Both worked within the offense for the most part and found good spots to attack.
Ighodaro got the start at center over Khaman Maluach, and his passing helped unlock some offense for the group. There are still questions about how much playmaking the Suns will get from Green and Brooks, but the opening-night result was about as good as Phoenix could have hoped for from that unit.
The first wave off the bench brought a different kind of energy. Collin Gillespie, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Ryan Dunn and Khaman Maluach entered next, with Goodwin and Maluach coming off the bench before Gillespie - a slightly unexpected order given how well Gillespie fit with the starters last season. Still, the move worked out.
Goodwin, Gillespie and Kennard all gave Phoenix an immediate lift. Goodwin, in particular, changed the tone with his hustle, finishing with seven points, three offensive rebounds and three steals.
Gillespie scored eight points and Kennard added nine. Maluach chipped in six points and had a few promising moments as he continues to battle for the starting center job, even if he wasn’t the force inside he was during summer league.
One of the biggest rotation surprises was Dunn getting the backup power forward spot over Rasheer Fleming. That’s a spot worth watching throughout the preseason. Dunn brought energy, but the offensive issues showed up too, as he finished with two points and three turnovers in 16 minutes.
Fleming still logged the most minutes of anyone in that second wave, finishing with three points and five rebounds in 19 minutes despite sitting out the first half. That makes it clear Phoenix is still sorting out who can handle the backup 4 role.
Things got much messier from there. The Suns were outscored 59-39 after halftime and coughed the ball up 22 times over the final two quarters, which left the deeper rotation with more questions than answers.
Rookie Koa Peat did have a few positive moments in his first NBA action, putting up four points and four rebounds. But Jamaree Bouyea and Haywood Highsmith, both competing with Duop Reath for the final roster spot, combined for nine turnovers and struggled in the opener. Reath finished with two points in eight minutes and was basically neutral, which still leaves the Suns wanting more before they can judge whether he fits as the third-string center.
Ott also did not use second-year players CJ Huntley or Koby Brea at all, a notable choice given that Huntley is part of the third-string center battle and Brea could grow into a rotation role if he develops beyond being just a shooter. It may simply mean neither has done enough yet, though that could change as the preseason continues.
Phoenix is back Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls for its second preseason game.
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Suns Frontcourt Battle Is Putting Real Pressure On Oso Ighodaro
The Suns leaned into a three-guard look in preseason against the Detroit Pistons, but the bigger storyline sat in the frontcourt, where Oso Ighodaro got the start and Khaman Maluach continued making his case for a larger role. For a team still sorting out its rotation, that kind of competition matters, especially when the center spot can shape both the defense and the spacing around Phoenixs guards.
Maluach showed the kind of defensive presence that can change a coachs thinking, and he even flashed a bit more on offense with a three-point attempt. Nothing has been decided yet, and the Suns are not tipping their hand on any roster change, but the pressure is real for Ighodaro if Maluach keeps turning preseason minutes into evidence that he belongs in the starting conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Still Have A Few Preseason Battles That Matter Before Opening Night
The Suns still have a few preseason decisions to sort out before opening night, and some of them sit well beyond the top of the rotation. Pat Spencer, on a two-way contract, has been used in a limited role and looks like the kind of depth piece a team hopes it never has to lean on, but is glad to have around if injuries change the picture. For a roster still taking shape, every available minute has a little more meaning than usual.
Haywood Highsmiths rocky preseason debut did not settle anything, and the back end of the roster remains in motion as the staff keeps sorting through options. Ryan Dunn, meanwhile, has to do more to separate himself in the battle for playing time, with the Suns also weighing other young options as they try to find the right mix before the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Fans Get An Early Look At A Rotation Battle Taking Shape
The early preseason minutes already offered a clue about how Jordan Ott wants to sort through the Suns frontcourt, and the next test comes against Chicago after the loss to Detroit. Phoenix is still in the stage where lineup choices matter more for what they reveal than for what they decide, and the staff is using these exhibition games to get a better read on fit, rhythm and chemistry.
Ott is keeping the same starting group in place for a second straight game, a sign that the battle up front is far from settled even as roles begin to take shape. The plan also calls for the starters to log more time against the Bulls, giving the Suns a longer look at how the group functions together before the rotation starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]