Surprisingly positive Suns takeaways from loss to Nuggets

Grayson Allen trailed Booker in the scoring department, posting 17 points. Dillon Brooks was the only other Sun in double figures, scoring 15 on 6-of-18 shooting (3-of-13 from 3).

The Nuggets deployed a balanced attack with seven players posting double-digit scoring. Nikola Jokic finished with a 14-point, 14-rebound, 15-assist triple-double and was a game-high plus-27 while on the floor.

Despite a lopsided result, there were some positives to glean from this game, let’s take a look at them.

Ryan Dunn, Conductor of Chaos

The Suns’ sophomore continues to be a disruptor on the floor, and is making a living attacking offensive rebounds and meeting players at the rim to stuff dunk attempts.

In a season where bright spots like this will come few and far between, Dunn’s second-year leap will be one of the biggest developments of the season.

The 3-point shot will come, and when it does, Phoenix will be home to one of the league’s elite two-way players.

Maluach’s Increased Suns Production

With Mark Williams out due to right knee injury management, Phoenix’s marquee draft pick got some extra burn, playing 12 minutes and finishing with six points, two rebounds, one assist and four personal fouls.

It wasn’t pretty, sure. Khaman Maluach matched minutes with Nuggets backup center Jonas Valanciunas, and, of course, the veteran got the edge.

However, the former Duke Blue Devil showed developmental progress. He was light on his feet, athletic, coordinated, deterred shots and wasn’t easily thrown around by the beefy Valanciunas.

It was a grim loss, yes, but many of the season’s games will come with developmental growing pains.

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