The Phoenix Suns took down Flamengo, from Brazil, 100-88 Wednesday night. The Suns were strong on offense last season, but were one of the worst teams when it came to turning the ball over. They averaged over 18 turnovers per game last season and missed the playoffs by just one game, as the Dallas Mavericks took the final spot of the playoffs.

The Suns are now loaded at the guard position, as they signed former Sacramento King and scoring machine Isaiah Thomas. Although undersized at 5’9, Thomas proved himself as an elite scorer during the 2013-14 NBA season by averaging 20 points and shooting 35 percent from downtown. While with Sacramento, he was one of the lone bright spots on a mediocre team and now joins Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic in Phoenix. Thomas got to work early in the preseason, as he would drop 18 points tonight shooting 5-of-9 from the field. Thomas hit two three pointers in the fourth quarter to help bury Flamengo. Dragic also hit a three in the second half, as he would end the night with six points and two steals, while Bledsoe added fifteen points and two assists of his own.

While the core of the team lies in their three stud guards, who will figure to steadily rotate in the backcourt, the rest of the team features plenty of youth in the frontcourt. Veteran small forwards Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker will be running with young big men Miles Plumlee, Marcus Morris, and Markieff Morris this season. The latter two combined for 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Green added 13 points and 4 boards, including a nice hanging jumper early in the fourth. The assist on that play came from rookie T.J Warren, who was drafted fourteenth overall by the Suns back in June. A pure scorer out of N.C State, who averaged 17 points in summer league, only saw the floor for five minutes and added in three points.

Flamengo was plagued by 26 turnovers, and only shot 39 percent from the floor. They were led by forward Marcelinho Machado who scored 16 points to go with 2 rebounds and a steal. Flamengo was actually the team that former Phoenix Sun Leandro Barbosa played for briefly in 2011. Barbosa, currently with Golden State, played for Phoenix from 2003-2010 and won sixth man of the year honors in 2007. Flamengo could have used his quickness, as the team struggled to get to the rim against the Suns.

The Suns, overall, have a young lineup. Thomas and Bledsoe, two of the backcourt leaders, have less than ten combined NBA seasons under their belt. Dragic, who is effectively Steve Nash’s prodigy, will be called upon to lead an inexperienced but talented group of players. The Suns next game will be Friday against the Denver Nuggets on their home floor.