Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Nick Richards continued to make a stellar impression as the Phoenix Suns notched a 119-109 victory over the visiting Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards detailed the shock from playing against the Suns to then becoming a member of the Suns three days later.

New Phoenix Suns center Nick Richards explains his transition to the Suns. He is 2-1 to start his Suns career, averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds.

The Suns traded Josh Okogie and three future second-round picks Wednesday for Richards and a second-round selection. Wearing No. 2, Richards joined the Suns (20-20) Friday in Detroit and was ready to make his debut Saturday against the Pistons (21-20) at Little Caesars Arena.

The Phoenix Suns' center rotation was in a dire state recently. Phoenix hopes trading for Nick Richards from the Charlotte Hornets will help ease their concerns.

Bradley Beal and Nurkic were benched for the Jan. 6 game at Philadelphia. Nurkic played that game and the next against Charlotte in the second of a road back-to-back, but Suns coach Mike Budenholzer didn't play him the next two games against Atlanta and Utah.

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.

The Charlotte Hornets traded Nick Richards to the Phoenix Suns in a move that was widely panned as a win-win for both sides. Charlotte flipped Richards for an active, defensive-minded wing in Josh Okogie and a handful of future second round draft picks, while Phoenix added an interior reinforcement to their championship-contending roster.

Speaking after the Suns' 119-109 win over the Wizards, Kevin Durant addressed his new teammate Nick Richards. He noted that Richards has already spoken to himself and Devin Booker about how he sets screens,

Will the Suns be able to trade demoted center Jusuf Nurkic? Will they buy him out? Voice your opinion on our Community Shootaround.

Veteran center Jusuf Nurkic was benched earlier this season, and in a perfect world, the Suns would love to use his $18.1 million salary to land a difference-maker. In the meantime, though, he is still a member of the Suns and is working through those difficult circumstances.