Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards had 19 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in their 125-108 home win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
The Phoenix Suns will face the Denver Nuggets on Friday night looking to pick up a much-needed victory. Phoenix is coming off a 23-point comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night and they will look to build off that in Friday’s game against the red-hot Denver Nuggets.
When the Phoenix Suns swapped Josh Okogie for Nick Richards, it was a quality move and one that head coach Mike Budenholzer was a fan of. However, there have been some inconsistencies with his playing time.
The third quarter was largely dictated by Bol and Nick Richards - the starting center scored 6 points while playing stout defense throughout his time on the court. Phoenix carried a 92-70 lead into the final 12 minutes of action - an advantage that allowed for some time to rest Devin Booker and Kevin Durant.
Bol Bol led the Suns in scoring with a 25-point effort, but Richards made his presence felt as well, ending as the Suns' second-best scorer and also making an impact on the glass. Richards has established himself as the Suns' starting center after being acquired via trade from the Hornets in mid-January,
The Phoenix Suns entered the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations, especially after the performances from both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant during the 2024 Paris Olympics. To start the season, it looked promising as they got out to a 9-2 record as additions such as Tyus Jones looked like exactly what they were missing.