Brandon Knight returns after 21-game absence
Mar 10, 2016, 10:36 PM
Brandon Knight’s first game under interim coach Earl Watson didn’t change much for the now 17-48 Phoenix Suns.
Knight played 25 minutes off the bench, scored 10 points and dished out five assists in a 116-98 loss to the Denver Nuggets Thursday. It was Knight’s first game action since Jan. 19.
There were two clear changes to Knight’s game under Watson. He played with far more urgency on both ends, pushing the tempo on offense and staying active on defense.
He made an immediate impact after checking in for starter Ronnie Price with 7:01 left in the first quarter.
Welcome back, @Goodknight11 #SunsAtNuggets pic.twitter.com/xxYWVXLnKs
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) March 11, 2016
That simple semi-transition look to Chandler was there for Knight all game. He continued to sprint forward with the ball when he received an outlet pass.
Knight contributed to the big run in the third quarter that brought the Suns their first lead, hitting one three and an absurd four-point play that was called off and resulted in two points at the free throw line.
The biggest alteration for Knight was on defense, where he was playing with much more energy.
That played a factor in the third quarter run as well, when Knight uncharacteristically ran into the key and battled for a defensive rebound, stripping the ball away from a Denver player.
Keeping his feet constantly moving and bouncing around his spots, Knight was erratic, but far more animated than he was earlier in the season on that end of the floor.
He was still struggling, though, making a few gambles that didn’t pay off and being a step or two in the wrong spot off the ball.
Even with Knight’s return, it was still the Devin Booker show. The rookie scored a career-high 35 points after putting up 32 the night before.
Knight averaged 21.3 points per game in January before going down with a groin injury that kept him out for almost two months. The 24-year-old is in the first year of a five-year, $70 million extension.
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