Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards, who was traded to become the team’s starter at its weakest position, exploded for 21 points and 11 rebounds in the Suns’ 125-121 win over the Detroit Pistons on the road.
Richards spoke about his performance after the game. Via The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin:
“I was out there just being me, playing my style of basketball, trying to figure out the new system.”
Richards is someone who can make the game easier for the Suns’ Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who missed the game with a left ankle sprain.
Before Richards played his first game with the Suns, they ranked dead-last in the NBA in field goals attempted (19.9) and made (13.2) within five feet. Richards’ paint presence helped the Suns against the Pistons, who are one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
“He was catching, he was finishing, he was rebounding,” Booker said. “For his first game, playing the right spacing … that was a big pick-up for us, and it showed tonight.”
Booker and Durant are regarded as two of the top-10 players in the NBA when they are at their best. There is perhaps no better scoring duo in professional basketball, but they need someone who can finish around the basket.
Before Richards arrived, the Suns were struggling to score. Center Jusuf Nurkic ranks 31st out of 33 starting centers with 20-plus games in field-goal percentage (45.2).
Durant’s 19 third-quarter points were huge for the Suns. But make no mistake: Without Richards, it would have been an entirely different game.
“He was special,” Durant said.
Phoenix’s frontcourt will be tested against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who they play on Monday at 1:30 p.m. Cleveland has two players who average at least eight rebounds per game, Evan Mobley (8.8) and Jarrett Allen (10.0). Both players will test Richards, who is expected to soon slide into the starting five.