標籤: Phoenix

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns’ dominant 120-98 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday showed the foundation the franchise has for the future with a group of young players.

People like Khaman Malooch, Rasheer Fleming and Ryan Dunn have been at the forefront. While Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green got the spotlight, the last three left their mark.

Whether it’s Dunn’s growing confidence for the Suns, or Fleming gaining respect in the locker room, or Maluach’s emerging potential, the options seem endless.

During Sunday’s win, Dunn had 12 points and three steals while connecting on five of his eight shots. Meanwhile, Maluach had seven points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, with a box score of +19.

Considering the numerous injuries and the disappointing performance 24 hours earlier, the youth movement again showed itself. Dunn hopes that’s something that continues beyond the season.

“I love it. Playing with both of them, they give a lot of life and young life,” Dunn said, when asked about the Suns’ rookie season postgame. He’s made a lot of progress since the beginning of the season… Man man, he’s coming in here, full of confidence, talking a lot, shooting, you’ve got size and athleticism.

“I think it’s a little scary, me and him being on the field together, defensively… I hope we can grow through our careers here and get better.”

Ryan Dunn enjoys playing next to rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.

“I love it. Playing with both of them, they give a lot of life and young life. They’ve progressed a lot since the beginning of the season. … Man man, he’s coming here, full of confidence, talking a lot, … pic.twitter.com/qKta7n6ucA

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 23 March 2026

Khaman Malooch, Ryan Dunn, Rasheer Fleming are cornerstones of the Suns’ future

Maluach’s playing time has gradually increased since the trade deadline. Phoenix dealt Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davies, opening up more space in the front court.

The combination with a sudden injury to Mark Williams provided the final mix for the former Duke center to make an impact. There was no choice whether or not the Suns wanted to play Maluach so soon.

Despite this, despite some growing pains, he stopped short of believing in the ability.

Sunday’s game was a small sample of what a potential front court could look like with Dunn, Fleming and Maluach, which makes the latter intriguing.

When asked about playing with Dunn and Fleming, Maluch explained, “It’s really fun because I see the work they do.” I see how many hours they spend in the gym.

“I’ve seen how much they’ve improved since I first saw them in Summer League. It’s a process for all of us, and we’re really trusting the process and getting better every day.”

PHOENIX – Jalen Green wondered why he couldn’t take advantage in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Milwaukee consistently doubled Devin Booker throughout the game, and clear advantages did not emerge.

Normally, the ball will continue to swing and into the hands of the open shooter. However, it felt like the offense was a step slower than normal.

The Suns scored 23 points in the quarter and hit only three of their ten triples. In the process, Booker doubled up and didn’t have much of a chance to score, which left Green wondering why he didn’t take advantage of it.

“I just think (when) our main guy is doubling, I think we should be able to hit them,” Green said in the locker room postgame after the 108–105 loss. “Whenever a double (team) gets sent in, we have to be able to beat them and get what we want.”

Jalen Green told @DuaneRankin His ideas about the fourth quarter of the Sun.

“I just think (when) our main player is getting doubled, I think we should be able to hit them. Anytime a double (team) is sent in, we should be able to hit them and get whatever we want.” pic.twitter.com/i59xZOlM17

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 22 March 2026

Jalen Green wants Suns to take advantage of mismatches

In his response, Green referenced what the team has done all season: take advantage of mismatches. This has happened countless times where Booker will be doubled, or someone like Dillon Brooks, and the ball will continue to turn over.

This happened quickly during Saturday’s loss but was not as sustained as in previous games.

When asked what specifically the problem was, Green was unsure.

“I need to watch film, but I think whenever I see a double take with our team, the guys out there, we should be able to hit them,” Green explained. “We got shooters spaced out on the floor. I don’t really know specifically what it was. They’re trying to take our best player out in the fourth and the other 4 players on the court won’t allow it, won’t allow it, so we have to help.”

During the team’s dry spell, the Suns have suffered a string of injuries, with six players reporting before Saturday’s game. Green doesn’t see this as an excuse in any way.

He understands what his team needs to do, and he needs to make a small change to ‘beat’ more teams if they want to do what Milwaukee tried to do.

PHOENIX – Rasheer Fleming and Devin Booker continue to see growth after each a career-high 16 points in the Phoenix Suns’ 111-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

A week ago, Fleming was enjoying being the Suns’ primary defender over guys like Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Now, the defense is picking up the aggression.

His improvement was no surprise to Booker, who has watched Suns rookies develop before. They saw it out in the 2024-25 season with Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro.

After one season, he has a new group of rookies just scratching the surface. Since training camp, Booker knew it was only a matter of time before he reached the big leagues.

“They’re in the stay-ready group. I think they’ve graduated from the stay-ready group now,” Booker said with a laugh after the game.

“We’ve watched them from the beginning. You see the potential. You saw what they can do in training camp, and I’ve seen that many times over the years. You just wait for the real game and see if it translates. They’re both doing it well.”

I asked Devin Booker how much Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Malouch have impressed him throughout the year.

“They’re in the stay-ready group. I think they’ve graduated from the stay-ready group now (laughs)… We’ve seen them from the beginning. You see the potential. You see what… pic.twitter.com/GIVyN5spZv

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 9 March 2026

Suns’ Rasheer Fleming has Devin Booker’s seal of approval

This is another impressive game for Fleming. He’s learning to play off Booker, while also creating offensive opportunities for himself by rebounding or finding enough space on the floor.

As he finished his post-game press conference, Fleming came in and the media heard Booker calling their rookie a “good rookie boy.”

The St. Joe’s alumnus took his seat immediately afterward and began. When he was asked about being in that ready group during the season, it wasn’t an insult. It was exactly what he needed.

“At the end of the day it’s basketball,” Fleming explained. “When Khaman (Maluch) and I are able to play there or in the G-League, we take full advantage of that opportunity because it’s basketball and it’s another way to get better.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming how being in the Suns “Stay-Ready” group has helped him gain confidence on the floor.

“At the end of the day it’s basketball. When Khaman and I are able to play there or in the G-League, we take full advantage of that opportunity because… pic.twitter.com/h5JLFhKqgj

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 9 March 2026

The rookie will embark on a six-game road trip with his team. They will face the Milwaukee Bucks where Fleming may face a tough matchup in Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now that we’re officially four races into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the battle leading up to the 10-race The Chase is only starting to heat up. After a battle at Phoenix that saw some top drivers wrecked while others cracked the top 10, there is still some movement for the Cup Series points leaders.

Let’s take a look at the NASCAR points standings today after the Straight Talk Wireless 500.

RELATED: NASCAR Results Today Phoenix, NASCAR Stage Results Today

NASCAR points standings today: Cup Series playoff picture

Here are the NASCAR points leaders right now after today’s race at Phoenix. For the top 16 drivers who made The Chase, we’ve listed how many points behind Tyler Reddick they are. Below 17th is how many points they are behind the 16th and final Chase position.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Will the Phoenix Suns’ newest acquisition, Haywood Highsmith, make his season debut on Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings? The 6-foot-5 forward is unsure himself.

He was given a timetable of two to three weeks to return from knee surgery in August 2025. From the moment he arrived at the Valley of the Sun, Highsmith was committed to being ready for the final stages of the season.

“Doing a lot of work. Making good progress. Making progress faster than they thought and getting more comfortable every time working with rehab and stuff. Just looking good and feeling good,” Highsmith said during Tuesday’s shootaround, via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin on Ax (formerly Twitter).

The former Miami Heat forward has defensive ability, which Phoenix was very interested in acquiring. After the Suns executed at the NBA trade deadline, they vacated a roster spot.

The signing of Highsmith was a bit of a surprise, given how he fits into Miami’s culture. But he fits seamlessly into Phoenix head coach Jordan Ott’s defensive scheme of players who can switch and be versatile on that end.

What can Haywood Highsmith bring to the Suns?

Defense, defense, and more defense. Despite not being the best offensive player, this was his calling card. However, Highsmith developed into a good 3-point shooter, getting 42 starts last season.

The 3-and-D philosophy will never go away in the NBA, and as long as a player can be effective on both sides, it’s usually a recipe for success.

And with Jordan Goodwin scheduled to be evaluated in about a week or two, Highsmith’s appearance comes at a critical time. Like Goodwin, the newest addition to the team will bring his own calling card.

“Defensively, that’s what I do. Pressing. Picking up, being that dog defensively. Crashing the glass, being a good shooter, playing off guys like (Jalen Green and Devin Booker) as a spot up shooter and just bringing that energy,” Highsmith said via Rankin.

“Just being a tough, solid guy and doing the intangibles and doing whatever it takes to win.”

No-ego is an automatic green flag for Suns, and they may find themselves a perennial lockdown savior. Now it remains to be seen whether he is fit on Tuesday despite no injury report.

As part of a three-team trade back at the deadline, the Phoenix Suns acquired Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony from the Milwaukee Bucks. While Coffey has been a part of the Suns’ rotation since his arrival, that is not the case for Anthony. According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, a move toward removing Cole Anthony from the roster was always under discussion for the Suns, and according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the team finally did it on Friday.

Cole Anthony did not join the Suns’ roster after the deadline, and the move allows him to clear waivers by the March 1 buyout deadline and potentially be picked up by another team. Siegel suggests another team could bring Anthony in via a 10-day contract or for the remainder of the season, but there are also some foreign teams that have expressed interest in him. However, at this time, it is likely that he will continue to pursue another NBA opportunity.

With the Suns now having an open roster spot, two-way contract guard Jamari Bouya is a candidate to be converted to a standard deal. The Suns also signed Haywood Highsmith to a contract after acquiring him from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this month.

Anthony was selected 15th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. He played for the Magic for five seasons before being included in the team’s offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Grizzlies waived Anthony before the start of the season, and he signed with the Bucks.

Anthony appeared in 35 games for the Bucks at a rate of just over 15 minutes per game. He averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists with splits of 42.4 percent shooting from the field, 30.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 61.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

PHOENIX – Before Rasheer Fleming’s NBA campaign began, there was one player he wanted to protect.

“LeBron James,” Fleming said emphatically during a Phoenix Suns fan event before the season started.

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix have met three times, Fleming has never had a chance to guard James or Doncic. He has spent those games either with the Valley Suns (Phoenix’s G-League affiliate) or playing trash.

Due to frequent injuries, he has seen his workload increase. Being mostly a defender, his offensive game has increased rapidly.

He may not surprise anyone yet, but confidence is building. Fleming’s athleticism, wingspan and defense make him a worthy addition to the rotation.

The emerging offensive game—and the 3-point shot in particular—has intrigued fans as well as the Suns’ coaching staff.

Head coach Jordan Ott matched Fleming up against Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard on Tuesday, where the latter shot 1 of 11 from the field.

Two days later, the coach spoke about the rookie’s responsibility to guard “some of the best players in the world”, in reference to James and Luka Doncic. The starry nature was not disturbing him at all.

“I think later,” Fleming said when asked about matching up with James and Doncic. “Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I’m too competitive to focus on it.”

I asked Rasheer Fleming if he gets starstruck in the middle of a game or does it happen after.

He’s been guarding Luka Doncic regularly and had his eye on LeBron James tonight.

“I think later. Like, I’m going to go home and maybe think about it more. But during the game, I also… pic.twitter.com/KVcKFD89Wx

– Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) 27 February 2026

Suns teammates see Rasheer Fleming’s emerging potential

Fleming has all the tools to become an elite NBA defender. But an elite offensive player? Apart from his colleagues, this thing has not come to the mind of many people.

He has been hired for Valley Sons, and is reaping the rewards of his labor. There can be slight fluctuations between G-League and NBA games, sometimes on the same day.

But it’s all part of the process and Fleming took it seriously. Since the start of the new year, his work ethic and commitment to being prepared has paid off.

In the second half, Ott replaced the starters with the second unit, of which Fleming was part. He hit two 3-point shots and fired up the Phoenix crowd.

His aggressive play further increased his influence.

While he sat on the bench cheering, it was another game for Fleming in the eyes of Colin Gillespie, who raved about his rookie’s potential for about 30 seconds after the game.

“We always tell him he doesn’t know how good he can be,” Gillespie told reporters.

“He can be so, so good. I don’t even think he’s (close to) his ceiling. He probably doesn’t even know what the ceiling is. I don’t even know what his ceiling is. He still has a lot to discover offensively, but defensively, just on the ball, his length, deflections. He does everything.”

With injuries plaguing the team, this could be a legitimate opportunity for Fleming to fully integrate himself onto the Phoenix Suns roster.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game weekend took a trip down memory lane by way of Mac McClung. The veteran no longer participated in this year’s event as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Still, he made headlines — one that made Phoenix Suns fans think of Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire.

McClung helped release a series of online videos after the ’26 Dunk Contest was completed. The fourth, however, is reminiscent of the famous Nash-Stoudemire headbutt dunk.

four stings @macmcclung37 Would have done in this year’s dunk contest 🔥

Which one was your favourite? Text DUNK to 69097 to vote! pic.twitter.com/lrtNdcoFek

– Team VKTRY (@TeamVKTRY) 15 February 2026

Nash and Stoudemire had an epic soccer-like dunk in the 2005 NBA All-Star Game. Despite not attending the celebration in Inglewood, McClung has become the first person to actually recreate that dunk.

Why did Mac McClung skip the 2026 NBA All-Star Game Dunk Contest?

McClung likely entered the Intuit Dome as the heavy favorite to win again.

Except this year he opted to take a year off.

“I think we were just going back and forth, and then they were calling me, like ‘if I was doing this people weren’t going to want to do it,’ and I thought it would be best if I just sit out this year and let it be, no matter what,” McClung said.

Other words – McClung opted to allow this year’s edition to become more competitive without him. McClung’s presence may have made the participants feel like they had lost.

McClung is on a two-way deal with the Bulls, which he signed on February 5, the day of the NBA trade deadline. He may continue to bounce between the NBA and the G-League.

Meanwhile, Miami Heat’s Keshad Johnson won this year’s dunk title with the help of famous rapper E-40.