PHOENIX — For the first time in the preseason and on the eve of the real deal kicking off, the Phoenix Suns deployed what will be their normal starting lineup in Thursday’s 128-122 overtime loss against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Due to a left middle finger injury that kept Jusuf Nurkic sidelined for nearly the entire preseason, he made his season debut alongside Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. It came at a good time, as the one game in nine days rhythm to the schedule made it an opportunity for everyone to get their minutes close to where they will be in the regular season. Phoenix wants to keep its conditioning in a good spot for Wednesday’s opener and it will do that with bunches of scrimmaging.
Booker refers to it as “good bump” when there is a level of flow and physicality reached by the basketball. This qualified in the preseason.
“I think this next week that we have, we have to take advantage of the time and keep getting our conditioning up,” Booker said. “You seen how the second half was much more sloppy than the first and I think that just comes with conditioning and fatigue.”
Booker would love it if the season started tomorrow but he and his teammates will have to wait almost a week.
How do they maintain over the next five days?
“Just keep the intensity high, keep everything sharp. … It’s go time,” Booker said.
Beal, Booker and Durant each played at least 28 minutes.
“I think that was very close to what we hoped for, so I think for those guys to get up at that 30-minute mark and start getting ready for regular season and what’s coming,” Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said.
While it’s the equivalent of holding the door open for someone who has never experienced the everyday courtesy, the Suns’ on-court vibes continue to look miles better than last season. The combination of ball movement and engagement is a welcome sight.
Booker played a terrific 28 minutes, finishing with 22 points (8-for-18) and competing defensively. Durant added 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 31 minutes. Nurkic knocked down a pair of 3s and scored 15 points.
The spacing in the five-out lineups with Nurkic stretching the floor was noticeable. Booker came away from it quite enthused.
“So much,” Booker said when asked how much that helps the offense. “I think it opens up a lot of driving lanes, I think it pulls the other big, their rim protection away from the hoop.”
“I think it was good, especially with Bud and coaches and players, they’re really on me giving me full confidence I can shoot as many 3s as I want,” Nurkic said.
Booker noted how Nurkic has slimmed down and is moving a bit quicker. Nurkic said that came down to trying to stay as healthy as possible, joking he’s an old man now at 30 years old.
Beal had a frustrating evening, shooting 4-of-15 with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and five turnovers, all while falling on the hardwood a number of times. His body language reflected that frustration, but for those choosing to read anything into that, don’t.
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