Phoenix Suns change starting lineup vs Dallas Mavericks

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns are fielding the following starting lineup against the Dallas Mavericks:

Tyus Jones
David Booker
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Durant
Jusuf Nurkic

The Suns will be without Bradley Beal tonight due to an elbow injury. Dunn, Phoenix’s first-round pick, will get the nod.

Jones, Booker, Durant and Nurkic are the Suns’ other typical starters.

Fresh off a loss in which Phoenix led by as many as 22 points, Suns coach Mike Budenholzer says there’s plenty of room for improvement on offense.

“Yeah, I mean I think that’s accurate and we’re trying to get more of the beginning and less of the end. It’s basketball, it’s never easy, it’s never pretty and it’s never perfect. I think sometimes we are no different than any other team when our defense is good. I think about it many times,” Budenholzer said.

“It helps our offense, it helps us get the ball in, create space and quick actions against the defense that is not prepared. I think if we take the ball out of the net or commit too many fouls, we are turning it around and generating easy baskets. It’s a game that has both ends. I have a lot of leverage on the other end and sometimes we’re just not as good at moving on to second and third plays and screens and room for improvement on those possessions when we’re stagnant and we’re not. as good as we should be.”

The Suns are 1-1 and face a Mavericks team that is 1-0 tonight.

“Obviously, a lot of respect for Klay (Thompson) and his ability to shoot, get hot and make shots quickly off the dribble, so I think you’re aware of where he is, while still knowing that (Luka) Dončić and (Kyrie) Irving are going to have the ball a lot. “I’m sure that’s their formula, to try to make you lose sight, to lose your connection with (Klay) Thompson, while they have two great players that you know follow the defense, so you have to be able to do everything against them,” Budenholzer said of Dallas.

Opening council is at 7:00 p.m.

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