Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer could’ve easily given the starting nod to Bradley Beal for their 111-109 home win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
Prior to the game, Budenholzer didn’t reveal who’d replace injured rookie wing Ryan Dunn (left ankle sprain) in the starting lineup. He ultimately rolled with Royce O’Neale instead of Beal.
“He could’ve went with anybody and he chose me,” O’Neale told The Arizona Republic after the game. “Don’t change my mindset. Just play as hard as I can, come in and impact the game and just be me.”
Most observers would have predicted Beal the choice after he scored 20 points in 38 minutes off the bench during Phoenix’s 119-109 home win over Washington on Saturday. He also was a starter up until a few weeks ago, when Budenholzer replaced him with Dunn.
During O’Neale’s 10th start this season Monday, he scored 11 points, hit 3-of-8 from 3 and matched his season-high of four steals against L.A.
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O’Neale is known as a versatile playmaker, tough defender, solid 3-point shooter (Suns’ third-best 40.5% on 5.6 attempts per game) and penetrator. Budenholzer’s plan was to have him stick to James Harden and have Beal back him up with that task and contain Kawhi Leonard.
“He gave us a presence on Harden,” Budeholzer said about O’Neale. “We had a lot of different people we were gonna throw at Harden, but I think starting with Royce and then coming with Brad. I thought Brad did a great job on Harden, did a great job on Kawhi.
“Just trying to keep those same combinations we’ve been talking about. … He and Royce defensively I thought gave us a great presence on Harden and Leonard,” Budenholzer continued.
At the Suns’ Monday shootaround, Tyus Jones said Harden’s recently played “in a really good rhythm.” He’s a high-level scorer and distributor (21.7 points per game, NBA’s sixth-best at 8.3 assists), and dropped 40 and nine in L.A.’s win over Milwaukee on Saturday.
“It’s a group effort, especially on the defense,” O’Neale said about Harden. “I think all of us being connected and talking. We know he likes to hit the pocket pass, or the step-back 3, or attack. So I think just trying to make things tough for him, taking every advantage.”
The same goes for Leonard, who played his eighth game of the season after being sidelined most of the season from his recurring knee injury.
O’Neale and Beal helped limit Harden and Leonard to just eight and four points during the first half, respectively. Harden finished with 24 points, the game-high 10 assists and six rebounds. His other game-high, though, was six turnovers. Leonard ended the game with 17 points and five boards.
Two of O’Neale’s steals and one of Beal’s two steals were off Harden. The Clippers guard’s other early turnover was when Harden had Grayson Allen on an isolation drive, and Allen rotated over to help and pick up a charge on Harden.
O’Neale nearly got what would’ve been his first steal off Harden, and five total, at 7:05 in the first. Harden dribbled at mid-court and O’Neale disrupted his dribble before he initiated an offensive play and they got tied up for a jump-ball.
“When he plays that way picking you up as soon as the ball crosses half-court, using his hands well – always been great with his hands,” Kevin Durant said.
“He’s physical and just plays hard. Sometimes you might be out of position, but if you play hard you get steals, you get blocks, so Royce was great tonight,” Durant added.
O’Neale also set the tone for Phoenix with their 3-point shooting, in which they matched a season-high 22 made from the arc.
He knocked down the Suns’ first triple in the first quarter’s opening minutes, two more in the second. His third trey in the first half’s final minute extended their largest lead to 13.
The Suns have played well in January, edging the Clippers to get eight wins out of their past 10 games.
O’Neale feels that his teammates haven’t been rattled by the media’s trade speculation surrounding Beal and Jimmy Butler, or the frenzy about Budenholzer and the Suns’ former starting center Jusuf Nurkic not talking for two months while he’s on the trading block.
“Never too high, never too low, keep playing and being us,” O’Neale said. “Outside noise is always gonna be outside. I think we just focused on each other, try to win as many games as we can. That’s what it’s about.”
In a thrilling matchup against James Harden and the LA Clippers, Royce O’Neale proved his worth as a starter for the Phoenix Suns. O’Neale’s impressive performance helped lead the Suns to a crucial victory, showcasing his ability to step up in high-pressure situations.
The game was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, with both teams trading baskets and momentum swings. O’Neale’s defensive prowess was on full display as he locked down Harden, one of the league’s most prolific scorers, and limited his impact on the game. His tenacity on the defensive end sparked the Suns’ energy and helped set the tone for the team’s overall performance.
Offensively, O’Neale also made his presence felt, knocking down key shots and making smart plays to keep the Suns in control of the game. His ability to contribute on both ends of the floor was crucial in securing the win for Phoenix, as they continue to solidify their position as a top contender in the Western Conference.
As O’Neale continues to excel in his role as a starter for the Suns, his contributions will be vital to the team’s success moving forward. His performance against Harden and the Clippers serves as a reminder of his value to the team and his ability to rise to the occasion in big moments. Suns fans can rest assured knowing that O’Neale is more than capable of stepping up when his team needs him most.
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