GAME RECAP: Phoenix Suns dominates Wizards Behind Nick Richards Breakout night

On By Littum

Phoenix Suns returned home after an exhausting five-match Eastern Conference Roadtrip where they faced Washington WizardsA team that will be sick near the bottom of the Eastern Conference position. Despite the typical ebb and river in a basketball match, Sun’s business managed with ease and prevailed to a 119-109 victory.

It was a balanced team effort from Phoenix, with five players scoring in double digits and three topped 20 points. Kevin Durant led the attack with 29 points, but the night belonged to Nick Richards.

When he made his home debut for Suns, Richards delivered a unique performance that caused the Phoenix audience to buzz. The newly acquired center scored a career-high 19 rebounds to go with 20 points, and just missed the evasive 20. Rebound despite several close calls late in the match. However, his influence was undeniable.

With the victory, Suns improved to 23-21 of the season and conducted a review of their season series with Washington.

Game Flow

First half

Ryan Dunn left the fight early, on his way to Suns’ dressing room after he had adjusted his left ankle as he drove to the cylinder. It was friendly fire that caused the damage when the rooki stepped on the foot of teammate Devin Booker.

He would not return.

It was a chopping start for both teams as they struggled to find the rhythm in the middle of the judges’ flute. Trainer Budenholzer used his challenge with 9:16 back in the first quarter and Suns with 6-5. It was a successful challenge, but Puss’s bid. Why so early?!

The Suns couldn’t find the range from Deep, missing their six attempts from beyond the arch. Bean, who entered the game in Dunn’s absence, hit Phoenix’s first super shot. It was followed by a three-point of Durant and one of Ty Jones, giving Suns an early 18-10 lead.

Mason Plumlee was the first center from the bench tonight, taking the place over Jusuf Nurkic, who returned to accessibility after missing the previous eight games.

Phoenix came out shooting in the first quarter and put 35 points. Kevin Durant led with 7, while Devin Booker added 6. On the other hand, Kyle Kuzma, who only achieved 5 points in last week’s Matchup in DC, Washington with 12 points, had half of their scoring. The Suns ended the quarter with a comfortable lead of 35-24.

The second quarter started slowly for Phoenix as they missed their first six shots – all except one came from beyond the arch.

A spark in the middle of the neighborhood, driven by a 7-0 race led by Devin Booker, outstretched Suns’ lead to 14. But before Suns could fall to the right, Washington replied with a quick 8-0 race and wiped out a lot of that momentum for a moment.

Meanwhile, Nick Richards dominated the paint in the first half and cleaned the glass with relentless energy. After putting a seasonal height of 15 rebounds against Nets, he matched that number in just the first half tonight.

Phoenix scored 68 points in the first half, bringing their third highest result in the first half this season. Richards had 7 points and 15 rebounds, Devin Booker had 15 points and 4 assists, and Bradley Beal had 10 points from the bench.

Suns led 68-53 at the half.

Second half

Phoenix looked good when he got out of the dressing room, hit 5 of their first 8 shots and expanded their lead to 19 points.

The Suns went a little loose with the ball in the middle of the third and played a little careless. After 3 turnovers in the first half, Phoenix had 4 in 7 minutes and allowed an 11-2 race to allow Wizards to reach within 10.

Nick Richards continued to have our attention as he scored 8 points in the quarter, doing so on empathic dunks off of the rolls and did it in the transition.

But Washington began to become familiar with their shooting when Suns struggled to protect the perimeter. Washington reached within four, but Kevin Durant replied when Suns quickly built their lead back to 11.

Washington outperformed Phoenix 32-28 in the third and scored 8 points out of 5 Suns’ turnovers and 6-of-14 from deep (42.9%). Durant had 10 points to compliment Richards’ 8 points and 3 rebounds in the quarter. Phoenix 96, Washington 85.

Running defined the night, a chaotic rope with Washington that threw a 10-2 jab, and Phoenix, who received with an 11-2 Hømager. Back and forth went, Suns was just ahead and held the lead as a gambler who grabbed their last pair of chips. The fourth quarter was no exception. A late 8-0 Washington flash shaved the lead down to nail-bumping four points.

Kyle Kuzma? He went in full microwave state in crunchy time, and beat Desperation Bank-Shot-Trere, as if he were auditioning for a 90s height point wheel. At the last buzzer, Kuzma had filed 30 points and grabbed 11 boards, a one -man’s devastating crew tried to get Washington back to it.

Phoenix didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard in the fourth, but they just did to keep wizards at arm’s length. However, the real drama was not in the end result. It was whether Nick Richards could grab the evasive 20. Rebound. He came close – painfully close – but it slid through his fingers on him, leaving him firmly at 19. Yet his presence was great and Suns held on to the victory of 119-109.

Next

The three -match home stand continues on Monday night as the Los Angeles Clippers take their first trip to Phoenix this season.