Stix Watch: Analyzing Friday night’s Jalen Smith minutes

It feels like it’s been a long time coming for Phoenix Suns second year forward/center Jalen Smith, but on Friday night the 10th overall pick from the 2020 NBA Draft finally had a chance to play in some meaningful minutes in the regular season. While his 7 points and 9 rebounds weren’t career highs in either category, it was how he earned those points that mattered.

Deandre Ayton was a late scratch with a non-COVID related illness, and with Frank Kaminsky already sidelined with stress reaction (and Dario Saric out for the season), the Suns found themselves short at the five entering their game against the Boston Celtics. Monty Williams’ solution? Start JaVale McGee and sprinkle in some Stix…