- Slug: Sports-Suns Preseason,600
By CHRIS CARAVEO
Cronkite News
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns came away with a victory in their preseason opener Wednesday night and three players in particular kept the crowd energized throughout the game – Brandon Knight, T.J. Warren and Jon Leuer.
The Suns officially opened Talking Stick Resort Arena with a 102-98 preseason win over the Sacramento Kings, but only after a three-point attempt from Darren Collison to win at the end of the game fell short and into the hands of Leuer, one of the bright spots for the Suns in the game.
Brandon Knight selects the three
An ice-pack-covered Brandon Knight hobbled out of Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff Friday to end training camp. But he suited up for the Suns first preseason game against Wednesday.
Knight started and played the entire first quarter and led the Suns on a late run to close the gap on a 27-12 start by the Kings.
With four minutes left in the quarter, Knight made a jump shot and on the ensuing Kings’ possession he stole the ball and assisted guard Sonny Weems on a field goal, bringing the team within 11 points.
Later on, Knight knocked down a three and again made an assist, this time to Warren on a breakaway basket.
Knight ended the quarter with eight points. He returned in the third, when he scored another eight points, including two more three-pointers. He also lobbed an alley-oop from the corner to new center Tyson Chandler.
Knight chose the three often in his 24 minutes of play, showing that he can be a long distance option for the Suns.
T.J. keeps on scoring
T.J. Warren subbed in for P.J. Tucker five minutes into the game and never stopped making an impact while on the court.
Warren scored at will during the Summer League and he continued his offensive prowess against the Kings. In 26 minutes Warren tallied 17 points on 8 of 14 shooting from the field, plus a free throw.
Warren made multiple shots from the elbow, and ran down the court for fast break opportunities.
Leuer leads the way
Jon Leuer is on the roster bubble for the start of the regular season, but his performance in Wednesday’s preseason opener made the coaching staff think twice about the skills of the former Memphis Grizzlies forward.
Or did it?
“That’s how Jon plays,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said.
Leuer put up 17 points and 13 rebounds in 19 minutes. What will have people talking until the Suns’ next game will be Leuer’s dunk on Kings center Demarcus Cousins. The slam drew a foul on Cousins and ignited the crowd. Cousins tried to incite the fans after he drew a foul with his own dunk on the Kings next possession, but Leuer’s mark on the game was cemented with his dunk.
Leuer did have five fouls on the night, but he was in the game through the end and put the Kings away for good by making two free throws after Collison’s missed game-winning three-point attempt.
The Suns evaded a buzzer-beating loss Wednesday night, something that came seemingly every other loss for the team last season. Warren heavily contested the shot and Leuer secured the rebound.