PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns got their first back-to-back win in a month in a 114-106 win over the Utah Jazz Saturday and look to closeout a three-game homestand with another win in a rematch against the Charlotte Hornets.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Here are the pregame notes from Footprint Center for Sunday night’s game:
Injury report
– After missing the last six games with a left ankle sprain, Phoenix forward Royce O’Neale is available to return to the lineup. Center Jusuf Nurkic, who is coming off two DNPs in the last two Suns wins, is officially out with an illness. Just a few games removed from serving a three-game suspension, Nurkic will officially miss another three games as Phoenix reportedly looks to move the big man.
– For Charlotte, DaQuan Jeffries (Illness) is questionable and Tre Mann (Disc Irritation) and Grant Williams (Right ACL Tear) are out.
Pregame quotes
Suns coach Mike Budenholzer
On Royce O’Neale’s return:
“I mean, he’s been working hard, really from the first day. Getting back, playing some three-on-three, some full court, some live. So, looking good this morning, he wants to play. It’s, with an ankle, that’s maybe as important as anything. So, it’s good to have Royce (O’Neale) back.”
On working Royce O’Neale into the rotations:
“We’ve talked about it. It seems like a handful of times this year; it’s a good problem to have. Royce has been a great player for us. I think one of the top three-point shooters in the league in toughness, defense, size, and IQ. So, we’ll just, like we’ve been talking about, kind of just finding our best combinations, finding our best way to get through a 48-minute game. Royce can definitely help us do that.”
On takeaways from the last few games:
“I mean, it’s the second quarter that really stands out. We got to maintain our focus, our execution on both ends for 48 minutes. I think it’s maintaining that high level. The high-level focus, high-level execution, on both ends of the court for 48 minutes.”
Hornets coach Charles Lee
On what your time was like in L.A.:
“How much their families have been impacted, their friends have been impacted, for us to be in the area and see families coming into the hotel that have just been displaced from their home for different reasons. You start to feel some sympathy and empathy for those people.
“Obviously, our hearts and thoughts are with them and we were trying to balance, I think while we were out there, just being safe, being sensitive to the situation that was going on, while also trying to find moments where we can still get a little bit of basketball and go touch a ball, go to a gym, and keep trying to build positive habits for the team. But we are looking forward to finally getting to hoop today and playing a really good Suns team that we just saw last week.”
On how close the performance against the Suns last week was to where you want the team to be:
“It was much better, even like the first quarter. We had one timeout and we talked about transition defense again. Just making sure the level of awareness to where is (Kevin) Durant, where is (Devin) Booker. We thought that we kind of let a couple shots that they luckily missed, but that we allowed them to get too many good looks in transition. Just trying to reset and refocus the team that we continue to have great execution in transition.
“Other than that, in the halfcourt, it was probably one of our best games in terms of 48 minutes. Executing a game plan and having really good coverage solutions for a lot of the different sets I thought they were running, even finishing possessions I thought was really good as well. Obviously, that same type of effort and focus needs to happen tonight again on the road.”
On the praise from Mike Budenholzer and what you take from him:
“Everything, pretty much what we do in the Hornets organization is a carbon copy of a lot of the things that I think he taught me, that I got exposed to. I just think that he understands the right way to do everything. There is so much thought that goes into it from a coaching standpoint, but also just from a human standpoint.
“He understands people and how they tick, how you can put them in the best position to maximize who they are as players but also as leaders, winners to make them a little bit more competitive. How he structures and organizes a practice, or a road trip. He is just maniacal, and meticulous with all the little details, but all of those little details add up to creating and building something really special to building sustained success. I have taken so much from him as a coach, as a father, as a man. Super grateful for him.”
Starting lineups
Phoenix Suns starting lineup vs. Charlotte Hornets
Tyus Jones
Devin Booker
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Durant
Mason Plumlee#SunsUp #NBA #HiveMentality— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) January 13, 2025
Charlotte Hornets starting lineup vs. Phoenix Suns
LaMelo Ball
Brandon Miller
Josh Green
Miles Bridges
Mark Williams#HiveMentality #NBA #SunsUp— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) January 13, 2025
Suns coach reveals Jusuf Nurkić is handling benching like ‘a pro’
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
