The Phoenix Suns are eight games over .500 less than halfway through coach Jordan Ott’s first season, a height the previous “superteam” never reached last year.
The buy-in to Ott’s aggressive approach has been obvious, and it has carried the Suns to a 23-15 record as they prepare to host the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
“I think we all understand we need each other to win,” guard Devin Booker said after scoring 31 points in a 112-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.
“Hero ball might be able to get you through one or two games. Once it comes down to the nitty-gritty, once you get deeper in a season or in the playoffs… you know you’re going to need everybody. All five guys on the court have to be a threat.”
The Wizards are on an up-tick themselves, having split their last 14 games, although a 128-107 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday was their third in four games.
New Wizards guard Trae Young (knee, quadriceps) is not expected to play against the Suns in his second game since being acquired from Atlanta. He has missed the last seven overall.
While Booker (25.5 points) is the Suns’ first option and Dillon Brooks (21.3) is having a career year, three different Suns have led the team in scoring in the last four games. Four different players have led in rebounding.
The Suns are averaging 14.4 3-pointers per game, eighth in the league, and their 36.5 success rate is 11th. Brooks has made 10 treys in the last two, and Royce O’Neale has 13 in the last three.
O’Neale’s 3-pointer with 1:16 left helped blunt a Knicks’ comeback Friday.
“A high-level basketball player with high level IQ and skill, which is super helpful,” Ott said of O’Neale, a 6-foot-6 forward who starts alongside 6-7 Brooks on a smaller yet more agile frontline.
“He’s just a competitive player who has evolved over time through work. It’s both ends.”
Young, who has averaged 25.2 points and 9.8 assists in a seven-year career, is expected to help guide the young Wizards to the next level. His assist average is third in league history behind Magic Johnson (11.2) and John Stockton (10.5).
The Wizards are 4-4 since rookie shooting guard Tre Johnson became a full-time starter, and he is averaging 13.8 points in 12 starts. Johnson had a career-high 24 in a 115-101 loss to Phoenix on Dec. 29.
The Wizards’ starting lineup has been in flux since the trade. Kyshawn George and Khris Middleton returned to the lineup against the Pelicans, the second game without departed CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
George had 15 points and five rebounds against the Pelicans after missing the previous seven games with a hip injury.
“We played really well when we moved the ball,” George said of his observations during his down time. “When we play as a team, everybody touches it, there is a lot of movement and we’re consistent.”
Reserve 7-footer Tristan Vukcevic chipped in 15 points and four rebounds in 23 minutes against Pelicans, when occasional starter Marvin Bagley III was rested.
“Marvin has been playing a lot of minutes, too,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “He’ll be back in soon, but we wanted to give Tristan a look.”
–Field Level Media
