Suns Week 3 Recap: Two Wins, Same Rebounding Problem

The Golden State Warriors won 116-113 Monday at Chase Center. The Suns led by six at halftime. Golden State erased that margin with a 42-point third quarter. Phoenix led 68-57 when Draymond Green was ejected. The Warriors tied it at 73 less than four minutes later. Stephen Curry scored nine during that 16-5 run. Curry scored 18 in the third, including four threes. Charles Bassey tipped in a miss after the ejection. Golden State found points inside and out. Booker scored 26 but committed six turnovers. Miles Bridges added 21 points and four steals. Oso Ighodaro went 6-for-6 off the Suns’ bench.

The Portland Trail Blazers won 132-119 Wednesday. Phoenix led 34-29 after one quarter. Portland scored 43 points in the second and entered halftime up 13. Booker made all 13 free throws and scored 33. Jalen Green added 22. The Trail Blazers offset that backcourt production with a 56-46 paint scoring advantage. Donovan Clingan scored 24 on 9-for-12 shooting. Four of his 11 rebounds came on offense. Portland finished with a 17-11 edge in second-chance points. Clingan opened a 25-8 run with a three-point play. The center added a three during the run. The Suns had to account for him outside, too.

Suns Week 3 Recap: Orlando’s Turnovers Pay For Missed Rebounds

Thursday ended a four-game skid. The Magic committed 25 turnovers. Phoenix scored 36 points off those mistakes, 14 more than the visitors got from turnovers. Coach Jordan Ott started Ighodaro over Khaman Maluach. Ighodaro recorded five steals. The switch gave the Suns a center who could disrupt possessions away from the rim. Booker scored 23 before halftime and finished with 30 points and eight assists. Dillon Brooks added 24. Phoenix made 17 threes on 34 attempts.

Orlando won the glass 48-33 and second-chance scoring 15-8. Wendell Carter Jr. finished with 27 points and 13 rebounds. The center converted 10 of 12 shots. The Magic also won paint scoring 48-40 and fast-break scoring 23-18. The Suns still won turnover scoring. Steals didn’t have to become breakaways to matter.

The Bench Gives Booker A Chance To Close

Kevin Durant’s return added some history. The Rockets acquired Durant in a 2025 seven-team trade. Phoenix received Green, Brooks and Maluach’s draft rights in that deal. The Suns scored 35 in the first quarter and 12 in the second. Houston erased a 19-point deficit. Halftime arrived with the score tied at 47.

Ryan Dunn stole the ball from Tari Eason and assisted a Brooks three. Dunn later intercepted an Alperen Şengün pass. Green dunked four seconds later. Dunn hit both threes and grabbed five rebounds. Luke Kennard added 11 points. The four reserves outscored the Rockets’ bench 34-15, giving Phoenix scoring beyond its starters.

Booker rested to open the fourth. Green shared the floor with four reserves. The group led 85-82 when Booker checked back in. Collin Gillespie assisted Green’s jumper early in the fourth. Green returned the favor on Gillespie’s next basket. The group created shots with Booker off the floor. Maluach collected 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. The second-year center scored five early in the fourth, including a putback. Ighodaro started and grabbed six rebounds in 23 minutes.

Mark Williams remained out after left shoulder surgery. Houston missed Steven Adams and Clint Capela. The official gamebook shows Oscar Tshiebwe played three minutes behind Şengün. The Suns won paint scoring 44-40. The Rockets still scored 17 second-chance points against 10 for the hosts. Winning inside still left work on the glass.

Suns Week 3 Recap: Booker Closes It Out

Bridges scored seven straight in the fourth. The forward finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists without a turnover. Green added 16 points and six assists. Booker scored Phoenix’s final nine points on four baskets. A step-back three stretched the lead to five. The last basket came with 2:30 remaining. Durant finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Houston had one last chance to tie. Durant missed from deep, and Bridges secured the rebound.

The Suns remain 0-1 in Emirates NBA Cup play. Saturday’s win went toward the regular-season record. The Utah Jazz host Phoenix’s next Cup game Nov. 20.

End Of My Suns Week 3 Recap Rant

The Suns Week 3 Recap raises a rotation question. The San Antonio Spurs visit Monday at 7 p.m. local time. Ott has two options at center. Ighodaro’s mobility helps against lineups that pull a center outside. Maluach gives the Suns more size at the rim. The opponent should determine who closes.

Dunn should get more minutes alongside the starters. Saturday showed he can create a scoring chance without taking touches from Booker. Ott can use that beside either center. A switch can keep the ball outside. Weak-side wings still have to box out. The next test is whether Phoenix can finish the stop without forcing a turnover.