After making a season-high 22 shots from 3-point range in a lopsided victory over the Los Angeles Clippers the last time out, the Phoenix Suns want to continue their success from deep when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
Suns coach Jordan Ott’s succinct strategy on distance shooting:
“Let it go,” Ott said after the team’s 133-110 win over the Clippers on Tuesday.
The Suns are shooting 37.6% from distance, sixth in the NBA, and the numbers would seem to warrant even more attempts. Even after going 22 of 43 from distance against the Clippers, the Suns were 19th on the season in 3-point attempts (36.4 per game) and 15th in makes (13.7).
“I don’t think that’s where we want to live,” Ott said. “I think that we want to live a little bit above that, taking high-quality shots, and part of that’s catch and shoot. Those guys have the ability to shoot off the dribble. Especially in drop coverage, once we get a good screen, let it go.”
Jordan Goodwin connected on six of seven 3-pointers for a team-high 18 points off the bench. Collin Gillespie made four 3s, while Jalen Green and Luke Kennard added three apiece. Devin Booker and Miles Bridges had two each.
Gillespie made 232 shots from distance a year ago and the Suns made 1,210. Both numbers are franchise records.
“I think it was the ball movement, us getting stops, ending possessions with rebounds, and just playing with that pace to get those shots,” said Goodwin, who missed the previous four games with a calf injury.
The Suns traded two of their most effective 3-point shooters to the Hornets in the offseason in Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale and will now have to game plan against their former players. That deal brought forward Miles Bridges to Phoenix, while distance specialist Kennard was signed.
Thursday’s game is the first meeting between the teams since the trade as the Suns play the sixth game of a season-long seven-game homestand.
Allen has continued to contribute from distance in Charlotte. He is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers per game and is shooting 46.9% from distance.
The Hornets built a 33-point lead and held on while playing without four starters, including leading scorer Brandon Miller.
“We are far from a finished product,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said. “We’re just kind of scratching the surface. Glad some shots went down. It’s one of those things you have to trust the process. You have to trust your habits. Stay consistent with the work.”
Miller (groin) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring) are not expected to play Thursday. Moussa Diabate (quadriceps) and Dennis Schroder (soreness) missed the Cleveland game and their status is uncertain.
Naz Reid had a double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds against the Cavaliers, and Ryan Kalkbrenner added eight points and 15 rebounds.
Reid, in his first season as a starter after arriving from Minnesota in the LaMelo Ball trade, is averaging 17.4 points and 8.5 rebounds and is on pace for career highs in both areas.
“I see his communication level growing with his teammates, building those relationships, and just trusting everything,” Lee said. “It’s really cool to see him becoming an elite two-way player and giving it to us on both ends of the floor.”
