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The Phoenix Suns have won seven of their last nine games as they enter Monday night’s home contest against the Los Angeles Clippers, who are on a roll themselves as winners of six of their past eight.

Belying the Suns’ surge, however, is a rift between former starting center Jusuf Nurkic and coach Mike Budenholzer.

After Saturday night’s win over the Washington Wizards, Nurkic claimed he and Budenholzer hadn’t spoken in two months and had “no relationship.”

Nurkic said his intent is to “just be a pro and do the best I can,” the Arizona Republic reported. “Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have plenty of it. Trying to be as professional as I can and work my ass off for something else.”

Budenholzer said the two have had conversations, but that playing time would go to those who deserved it.

“There’s been communication, but you know, we got three or four guys who play the same position,” the coach said. “We’re going to go with who gives us our best chance. You’ve got to earn your minutes, and that’s been communicated.”

Nurkic hasn’t played in the last nine games, and the Suns have gone 7-2. Phoenix also traded for Nick Richards from Charlotte on Jan. 15, and the 7-footer has recorded two double-doubles in his four games with the team, including 20 points and a career-high 19 rebounds in the 119-109 win over Washington.

“There are other things I have to step up on,” Richards said. “They have challenged me to do more.”

The Clippers, who sit sixth in the Western Conference, are starting a four-game road trip. They are also coming off a 10-point win, beating the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 127-117 on Saturday night.

James Harden went off for 40 points, and Normal Powell had 33 for the Clippers. The longtime reserve has flourished in a starting role with the Clippers, averaging a career-high 23.9 points this season.

“He puts in the work every single day to get better,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “The last four to five years, he has wanted to be a starter, and now he’s gotten his opportunity and has made the most of it.”

The Clippers have the third-best defense in the NBA, allowing just 106.8 points per game. On Saturday night, they committed just seven turnovers, well below their season average of 16.2.

“It could be anybody’s night on this team if we’re playing ball the right way,” Lue said. “(On Saturday) it was James and Norm. I thought we did a great job handling the zone and getting some big shots.”

Phoenix beat the Clippers in Los Angeles twice in October by a combined nine points.

Kevin Durant leads the Suns with 27.2 points per game, followed by Devin Booker with 25.5.

“There were good spurts in the game and bad spurts,” Booker said regarding Saturday’s victory. “I think our true tests are coming up this week. We’ve got to get ready for the Clippers on Monday.”

–Field Level Media