Paul Coro

azcentral sports

PORTLAND – Marquese Chriss' time is now.

Chriss, the 19-year-old Suns rookie, will get his first NBA start Tuesday night at Portland in a permanent Suns lineup move at power forward.

It was a good morning at Tuesday’s team shootaround for Chriss, who won the rookie trivia contest and found out he was an NBA starting power forward at age 19. Five years ago, Chriss was just beginning his first season on an organized basketball team as a high school freshman.

Jared Dudley had started the Suns’ first seven games at power forward but Chriss, at 6 feet 10 and 230 pounds, provides the Suns more size and athleticism at the position.

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“It’s best for our program,” Suns coach Earl Watson said. “It’s best for the first unit because that is the future of our team. It’s best for the second unit because we need our second unit to be more impactful. It’s best for everyone involved because it kind of settles everyone. We know where we are going as a group. We understand that age is quote, unquote, a challenge for us but we don’t accept that. As you know, I’m not afraid to play young guys or start them.”

With Tyson Chandler away from the team for personal reasons Tuesday night, the Suns used their youngest starting lineup in franchise history – Chriss (19 years old), Devin Booker (20), T.J. Warren (23), Alex Len (23) and Eric Bledsoe (26).

“Marquese is a unique player,” Watson said. “He’s a hybrid of today’s young players with his ability to play above the rim, the finesse to shoot the 3, block shots, dunk the ball, pass the ball, handle the ball and he has a tenacity that reminds me a lot of a young Draymond Green. We embrace that and we understand that. We love who he is.”

Chriss, the No. 8 pick in this year's draft, had played 10 or more minutes in each game this season until the Suns’ loss to the Lakers on Sunday, when he played a minute and 26 seconds in the second quarter before being removed for matchup reasons. He did not return in the second half.

Chriss has averaged 5.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game with 46.7 percent shooting from the field, including one 3-pointer. Despite his age, Chriss has played fearlessly and offers a dual threat with the perimeter shooting touch to pop off screens and the finishing and catching abilities to roll off screens.

Among rotation players, Chriss has the team’s third-best rebound rate (7.8 per 36 minutes) but highest turnover rate (4.3 per 36 minutes) and second-highest foul rate (6.3 per 36 minutes). The fouls were expected after Chriss fouled out of 15 of his 34 games at Washington last season.

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Chriss becomes the second teenager to start in Suns history. The other one, Booker, fared well after starting 51 games last season. Booker just became the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 38 points in consecutive games.

Booker, who turned 20 on Oct. 30, and Chriss are the only teenagers to start in the NBA this season besides Denver's Jamal Murray (two starts) and the Los Angeles Lakers' Ivica Zubac (one start).

Dudley’s move can help the bench, which entered Tuesday’s game ranked 29th in field-goal percentage and 30th in 3-point percentage.

“He gives them great spacing,” Watson said. “If there’s a pick-and-pop play, you have to respect him. You can’t clog up that paint so he gives our guards better chances to get elbow shots, drives to the rim.”

Dudley, 31, was signed in the offseason to a three-year, $30 million contract to provide shooting and veteran leadership and hold the starting power forward spot until Chriss or fellow draft pick Dragan Bender emerged. Dudley has expressed how willingly he would accept a reserve role once one of the draftees was elevated.

Dudley is averaging 6.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 23.3 minutes per game. He is shooting 44.1 percent from the field and 44.4 percent on 3-pointers, ranking 24th in the NBA.

Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.

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Tuesday’s game

Suns at Trail Blazers

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Moda Center, Portland.

TV/radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (98.7).

Trail Blazers update: Portland (4-3) won 105-95 at Dallas and 104-94 at Memphis since losing 115-108 in overtime Wednesday at Phoenix. Blazers guard Damian Lillard ranks third in scoring average in the NBA at 32.0 points per game but also adds 5.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Backcourt mate C.J. McCollum adds 21.4 points per game. On the strength of those guards, Portland makes almost four more 3-pointers per game than opponents, outshooting them 38.5 percent to 30.8 percent on 3s. Starting small forward Al-Farouq Aminu is shooting 26.7 percent from the field.

Wednesday’s game

Suns vs. Pistons

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (98.7)

Pistons update: Detroit (4-3) is undefeated at home and winless on the road after a 114-82 loss Monday at the Clippers. The Pistons have three recent former Suns: starters Marcus Morris and Ish Smith and reserve Jon Leuer. Morris is shooting a career-high 46.9 percent to average 16.4 points and 5.4 rebounds. Smith averages 9.4 points and 6.9 assists while Leuer adds 10.0 points and 6.1 rebounds off the bench. Despite Monday’s effort, Detroit has allowed 42.7 percent shooting, the fifth-lowest opponent clip in the NBA.