Phoenix Suns first-year head coach Jordan Ott praised Jalen Green following Thursday night’s 115-102 victory over the LA Clippers at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Green, making his season debut after missing the first eight games with a right hamstring strain, scored 29 points in 23 minutes, shooting 10 of 20 from the field, including 6 of 13 from three-point range.
“Anytime you’re out of basketball for that long, it’s not easy,” Ott said. “This was his first game of the season as well, so he hasn’t played in a long time. He gave us everything we expected and more.”
Ott emphasized how Green’s presence affected the Suns’ spacing and offensive flow. “Devin was getting open looks when he hadn’t hardly got any the first few games. That’s a unique challenge for the defense,” he noted, pointing to the boost Green provided to teammates like Devin Booker, who scored 24 points.
The third quarter was pivotal, according to Ott, with Royce O’Neale scoring 11 points in the stretch that helped Phoenix secure a 91-74 lead. The coach praised Ryan Dunn and Collin Gillespie as well. “Ryan’s energy, his aggression, his combination with Collin, off the bench, was felt,” Ott said. “We’re going to ask him to do that every night, whether he starts or comes off the bench.”
Ott highlighted the connection between Green and Booker. “That just shows how high-level each of them are. Skilled, talented, really good basketball players. Really good basketball players figure it out on the fly in an NBA game.” He stressed that Green’s ability to attack the rim and attract defenders will create opportunities for the Suns’ bigs in the pick-and-roll.
Defensively, Ott credited his team for staying competitive despite early struggles in the first half. “Our defense kept us alive. We struggled at times, but our defense is really good, and the offense exploded in the third,” he said.
Ott also praised the team’s overall mindset and chemistry. “We want five guys out on the floor super aggressive on both ends. Tonight was a big step. They all felt it. We’re starting to get game reps, which is helpful.”
Green’s debut came against a Clippers team missing James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. LA was led by Ivica Zubac with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Bradley Beal returned to Phoenix but struggled with five points on 2 of 14 shooting. The Clippers fell to 3-5 with the loss, while the Suns improved to 4-5.
The teams will meet again on Saturday in Inglewood, with the Suns aiming to build on the momentum from Green’s strong debut and their third-quarter surge.
