Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns is positive about his performance in the 121:100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Before the game, the center was asked to work on its defensive.
Following the victory, the first pick of the year was presented to an ESPN reporter together with Devin Booker. The Big Man is very satisfied both with his individual performance and with that of the entire team: “We managed to concentrate on the defensive. And we worked great together as a team.”
It was his task to defend the basket and to communicate a lot on the defensive, to coordinate with his fellow players. He also praised the support of the veterans in the team, who especially help the young players. Besides, the good throwers made the job against the Mavs easier. “We did a great job today. And this (job) is one of many,” Ayton self-confidently announced.
Booker was the top scorer of the game with 35 points (12/19 FG). The Shooting Guard is of the same opinion as his center, he also believes that the Suns are “on the right track”. His new team-mate plays a big role, but also the newcomers Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson fit well into the game.
They “made it easier” for him to bring such a performance to the stage, Sophomore Josh Jackson also emphasized it positively after the victory. Apart from the 35 points, Booker also scored seven field goals. Ayton scored 18 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists.
In Dallas, on the other hand, the mood was quite different. “We played really, really badly,” rookie Luka Doncic had to admit. Coach Carlisle also agreed: “We scored 75 points in the first and fourth quarters together. This is disastrous.”
The Mavs will continue their journey in the night from Saturday to Sunday, when their home debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves will take place. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s team lost their first game to the San Antonio Spurs.