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Suns win home opener, Ring of Honor banners revealed

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images

The short-handed Suns got a collective effort in the home opening win over the Jazz at Footprint Center, 126-104.

“We played off each other tonight,” Kevin Durant said. “[Eric Gordon] got us going early. Grayson [Allen] got it going in the third. We was just able to move off one another and that’s really what basketball’s about. It was an exciting win and hopefully we build off this.”

In addition to Durant’s 26 points and seven assists, Gordon put up 21 while Allen added 17 points of his own.

Developing chemistry is a season-long process for a squad with this many new faces, so the only silver lining of Devin Booker (left ankle sprain) and Bradley Beal (lower back spasms) missing time is role players getting extended minutes in head coach Frank Vogel’s system.

“Felt good to see the ball go through the hoop,” Allen said. “We’ve also had a lead in games that we’ve given up so I think in that third quarter and really that fourth quarter too, that was kind of in the back of our mind…that’s probably part of the reason why our third quarter was so good – we had that extra little motivation. We have the lead, let’s finish it.”

Offense will come along for this roster one way or another, but defense has always been the aspect of the game that Vogel-led teams have hung their hats on.

“They’ve believed in what we do,” Vogel said. “They’re executing our scheme to a pretty high level and they’re doing it with a great deal of effort and hustle and scrappiness…We know we’re gonna have elite talent on this basketball team but if the effort piece is greater than our opponent every night, we’re gonna be really tough to beat.”

“Our first three games have been solid defensively,” Durant said. “[Utah] won last night against a good Clippers team, hitting a lot of three’s, offensive rebounding a lot, and I think we was able to control that a bit. Also, catching them on a back-to-back was good for us as well”

Phoenix attacked the Jazz from the jump and the bench delivered in a big way.

“My teammates opening the game up for me, being able to get down hill, score points,” Durant said. “Then, when [Jordan Goodwin] came into the game, he put pressure on everybody on both sides of the ball.”

It’s a good thing PHX delivered tonight of all nights, because Suns legends packed the house for the Ring of Honor banner reveals.

“This is an incredible night for all of us,” Steve Nash said. “We’re all excited for this team and this year. Huge honor for all of us, but there’s also a lot of alumni up here that we’re also connected and tied to that mean a lot to us.”

“I’ve said this a hundred times,” Charles Barkley said. “I ain’t never leaving Arizona until I’m dead.”

Suns and Mercury owner in Mat Ishbia pulled out all the stops once again.

The likes of Barkley, Nash, Jerry Colangelo, Al McCoy, & much more were not only recognized, but also received commemorative watches.

“Every arena I go to, I tend to look up and look at all the past greats and the banners up in the rafters,” Durant said. “Playing for the Suns, I want to be a part of that. Those people inspire me and what they did for this organization and for this city.”

Amar’e Stoudemire and Shawn Marion will be added to the Suns Ring of Honor later this year.

More sights and sounds from Suns home opener:

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