Phoenix Suns: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 season opener

With a new head coach in place and a healthy Devin Booker, the Phoenix Suns looked impressive in their 2018-19 season opener. Here are three takeaways from the win.

After missing the playoffs for eight straight years, losing their last three season openers by a combined 83 points and cycling through four coaches and one general manager over the last five years, the Phoenix Suns and their fanbase needed a reprieve.

They got it Wednesday night in the team’s home opener for the 2018-19 NBA season, earning a convincing 121-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to go over .500 for the first time since November of 2015.

Although it was head coach Igor Kokoskov’s first game at the helm, Devin Booker‘s first bit of NBA action in 217 days, Deandre Ayton‘s first NBA game ever and plenty of players’ first time playing in a completely new offense, the Suns looked about as good as anyone could’ve expected.

After Dallas scored the first basket of the game, Phoenix immediately took the lead and never looked back, steamrolling its way to a double-digit advantage at the end of a 37-point first quarter. Though the Mavs cut the deficit to 94-90 with seven minutes left in the game, Booker simply would not let the Suns lose.

Entering the final frame with 16 points, Booker ignited for 19 fourth quarter points, including a stretch where he scored 14 straight for the Suns after Dallas had pulled within four. Between Booker’s late-game heroics, a whopping 19 triples, Ayton’s solid debut, a few timely daggers from Josh Jackson and steady production from T.J. Warren, Phoenix looked like a competent team for the first time in years.

It was only one game, and it came against a developing Mavs team that’s a long shot to make the playoffs, but Tuesday night was the greatest sign of hope for “The Timeline” yet. Here’s are three takeaways from the Phoenix Suns’ stunning season opener.