In a Thursday-night bout with the Washington Wizards, rookie forward Ryan Dunn was against pivotal to the Suns’ winning effort. Something that’s becoming more and more common as he continues through his debut season in the NBA.

Ryan Dunn recorded a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 130-123 win over the Washington Wizards.

Yes, the Suns did defeat Washington. That doesn't mean the win was overtly impressive - and they still have a ways to go to re-establish themselves as a playoff caliber squad.

Suns guard Bradley Beal wanted rookie Ryan Dunn to soak in the moment of being a starter, despite Beal being benched.

The Phoenix Suns' championship aspirations could be a dream deferred this season. However, two of the Suns' brighter lights have been rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro. The Suns' 2024 draft ...

Dunn provided a spark offensively to a Phoenix squad that was searching for a third contributor behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, ending as one of four Suns players in double figures in scoring in a losing effort. Dunn has posted a double-digit point total in 10 contests this season, doing so in three straight appearances.

Here are takeaways from Thursday’s win over the lowly Wizards (6-33), who have now lost their last eight games. Washington is 1-10 in its last 11 games. The Suns’ widest margin of victory came on Nov. 26 in a 127-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. They should’ve topped that Thursday against the Wizards.

The Charlotte Hornets traded backup center Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick to the Phoenix Suns for guard Josh Okogie and three second-round draft picks on Wednesday night.

Kevin Durant and the Suns got more physical in the third quarter, cutting into the Hawks' lead to make it 89-87. Durant (game-high 27 points) was nearly a perfect 6-of-7 and added both of his steals in the third. Devin Booker has 21 points.

The 27-year-old Richards, who is averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season, could be the Suns' new starting center.

The Phoenix Suns appear to be scrambling to fix their roster, but the damage has likely been done. They've got to roll with what they have.

Richards - coupled with rookie stud Oso Ighodaro - will inject a very pointed surge of athleticism into the Suns' lineup. Last season Nick Richards had more dunks (120) than Nurkic and Plumlee combined (100) in 1000 fewer minutes.