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    • Suns rookies Ighodaro and Dunn tested against Knecht and the Lakers in an OT loss
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    Suns rookies Ighodaro and Dunn tested against Knecht and the Lakers in an OT loss

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

    The Phoenix Suns had no answer for rookie Dalton Knecht in their final preseason game, a 128-122 overtime loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

    Knecht put in a shooting drill and matched All-Star Anthony Davis’ game-high 35 points.

    The Suns blew their lead in the second half when Knecht scored 20 straight points just before the final minute of the fourth quarter and through OT. Knecht hit six of his eight 3-point shots during these periods.

    The barrage included a 28-foot bomb over the 7-3 Bol Bol that tied the game at 113 late in regulation, three more 3-pointers in overtime to take the lead and his one-and-one layup and an assist for the Lakers’ substitute Jaxson Hayes’ big layup secured the win.

    Devin Booker (Suns team-high 22 points) admitted after the game that he didn’t know Knecht until two weeks ago, after the Suns’ season-opening 118-114 win over the Lakers in Palm Desert, California. Knecht was the SEC Player of the Year last season and was selected 17th overall by the Tennessee Lakers, Kentucky’s conference rival Bookers College.

    “Incredible. He can shoot the ball,” Booker said of Knecht. “I didn’t know much about him until Palm Springs, but definitely someone I have my eye on.”

    The Lakers didn’t need LeBron James to beat the Suns. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer was rested and was seen advising Knecht on his bench before the fourth period.

    “I would say I felt good when I took full control after I shot the first ball to Bol Bol and then just kept shooting,” Knecht said after the game. “I felt good during overtime. ‘Bron and AD (Davis) said, ‘It’s time, so it’s just time to take over.’

    “And call my teammates. They were looking for me.”

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    Suns rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro as well as Lakers second-round pick Bronny James Jr. (four points, two rebounds) were on the court when Knecht took over in the fourth quarter.

    Dunn (three points, four rebounds, one steal in 20 minutes) was fouled midway through the fourth period. He scored 20 points – including six 3s – in the Suns’ 118-114 win at Denver on Sunday.

    Dunn’s only highlight on Thursday came when he picked off Jalen Hood-Schifino in the second quarter and passed to Tyus Jones (11 points, five assists, three steals) to start a fast break that ended with a slam from Kevin Durant (19 points, eight Assists) ended).

    “I shouldn’t have been fouled in that game. … I would say Oso was mad at me for that,” Dunn told The Republic after Thursday’s loss. “But I give Dalton a lot of credit. He’s a great player.”

    Ighodaro (six points, two rebounds, two assists, two blocks in 24 minutes) came off the bench. One of Ighodaro’s blocks came in pursuit of Knecht’s fast-break layup attempt in the fourth period. Ighodaro was part of a youthful cast that included TyTy Washington Jr., Collin Gillespie, Jalen Bridges and Bol Bol. This unit played the entire OT against five Lakers rookies and second-year players, including Hayes, James Jr., Armel Traore and Hood-Schifino.

    “Going against a great team like the Lakers with a lot of stars, it was a big challenge for me and Ryan to team up with those guys,” Ighodaro said. “We have done a lot of good things. We learned a lot this pre-season. We’ll be ready to go.”

    Before Thursday’s game, Durant explained at the Suns’ shootaround how important preseason preparation is for Dunn and Ighodaro.

    “The regular season and preseason are two completely different monsters,” Durant said. “These guys know you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low. Don’t be discouraged if you play poorly. Don’t get too excited if you play well. Just keep stacking days and that’s what they do.”

    Knecht felt comfortable from deep, especially after Suns coach Mike Budenholzer pulled all of his starters.

    Booker, Durant, Jusuf Nurkic (15 points, seven rebounds, two blocks), Jones and Bradley Beal (13 points, four assists, five turnovers) left the game about four minutes into the fourth quarter during a 10-4 Lakers run.

    Budenholzer tested his bench to prepare for the regular season, which begins next Wednesday in LA against the Clippers. Phoenix visits the Lakers on Friday.

    “It’s great for these guys to have this experience,” Budenholzer said. “There are some things they can learn and grow from, so I think sometimes preseason games are there.”

    “Tonight they were put in game situations offensively and defensively and I think they can learn and grow from that. This is good for them.”

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    Madoc Meredith
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