The Phoenix Suns have something to build on, and it starts with a win streak that finally gave their early-season grind a little breathing room. After opening 1-5, they dropped the first two games of a four-game stretch before winning the last two, a run that at least steadied the ship after a rough start.
The biggest of those wins came against the Houston Rockets, and it carried some extra weight. Phoenix had gone four games without beating Houston since the Kevin Durant trade, but that changed in a back-and-forth second half.
The Suns got enough scoring from across the roster and kept Durant and Alperen Şengün under 36% shooting from the floor. Phoenix built a lead as large as 19 in the first half, then survived a tense finish after letting that cushion shrink.
That victory did more than just snap the drought. It gave the Suns their first win streak of the season and added another layer to the Durant conversation, especially with the way things have gone between him and the franchise since the trade.
There’s also been a change in the starting five, and it has paid off so far. After the 1-5 start, Phoenix moved Oso Ighodaro into the starting center role in place of Khaman Maluach.
Collin Gillespie, for the record, is still coming off the bench. Since the switch, the Suns are 2-0, and the on-court numbers have followed.
According to HoopsJunkie, the starting lineup’s net rating jumps by 16 points with Ighodaro in the first unit.
The fit makes sense on paper and, so far, in practice. Ighodaro doesn’t bring Maluach’s rebounding or physicality, but he does bring more experience and another playmaker into a starting group that can use one. He also doesn’t need the ball to matter, which fits a lineup already loaded with ball-dominant scorers.
Then there’s Dillon Brooks, whose role has become one of the more interesting questions on the roster. When the Suns traded for Miles Bridges, it was clear somebody in the starting group would have to give up shots.
Brooks has been the one making that sacrifice, and it has not exactly helped the offense. He’s shooting career highs from the field and from three, but Phoenix is 14 points worse offensively when he’s on the court.
His defense still matters, but the Suns’ surprise last season was built in part on his willingness to attack, and now he’s taking nearly five fewer shots per game than he did a year ago.
One more odd note from the Houston win: it was Phoenix’s first victory over the Rockets in 982 days. The only other team the Suns still haven’t beaten in that span is the Boston Celtics, who they last defeated on February 3rd, 2023, 1,374 days ago.
The schedule doesn’t get lighter, but it does stay at home. Phoenix has four games this week in its own building, starting Monday against the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns will also face the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday in their game against the Eastern Conference of the season, and then close the week Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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 Leaves Khaman Maluach Stuck In A Tough Spot
The Suns close win over the Rockets gave Phoenix another reminder of how tight the margins are in a season where every rotation decision matters. Ryan Dunn helped swing the game in a useful spot, but Khaman Maluachs night was a quieter one, the kind that reflects where he sits in the pecking order right now. For a young big still trying to carve out a role, that can be part opportunity and part frustration, especially on a team trying to win now.
Maluachs development is drawing comparisons to Donovan Clingan in Portland, with the two sharing some of the same broad traits but not quite the same level of impact at this stage. The Suns like the idea of bringing him along, but their current competitive goals leave little room for extended experimentation. Every close game pushes the same question a little harder: how does a promising prospect get the reps he needs when the team around him is built to chase results immediately? [Read more 🡒]