Controversial lineup change already paying off in big way for the Suns

The Phoenix Suns finally returned to winning ways on Monday night - snapping a four-game losing streak in the process - with a hard fought road win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Their opponent may have been without superstar Joel Embiid - plus backup Andre Drummond - but still boasted Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.

This game was a rock fight, and it featured some ugly offensive sets from both sides in a disjointed first-half. The Suns eventually ran out 109-99 winners though, and they were powered by the new lineup change that fans had been looking to see for some time now. Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic - back from a three game suspenstion - both finally coming off the bench.

The early returns on this change were extremely positive.

There had been some talk prior to the change becoming official - rookie Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee taking the spots in the starting five - that there was rising tension within the organization at the recent string of results, plus the fact Beal was going to be asked to come off the bench. Whether that is true or not we do not know, but there is no doubt this team responded accordingly.

To the surprise of most, Beal had a team-high 25 points in the win. Moments after checking into the game for the first time past the halfway point of the first-quarter, he appeared to be laughing and joking around with the bench as well. It's not that we haven't seen Beal smile this season - if anything Kevin Durant and Devin Booker have done it too much recently - but there was a looseness to him.

Right away the fit next to Booker looked improved, and the flow of the offense also benefitted as a result. Too often during the stretch in which all three stars have started together has it looked like a "your turn, my turn" offense - and while that didn't go away entirely - Booker was less passive both when Beal was on and off the court.

It felt like Booker - who only finished with 10 points yet had a level of assertiveness that will have pleased fans - was satisifed to allow point guard Tyus Jones to set things up, while getting plenty of touches himself. In the minutes where he and Beal were the primary ball-handlers out there - which didn't happen often with Jones and Monte Morris playing - there was less of Beal controlling things.

Beal's time coming off the bench also coincided with playing next to guys like Morris, Grayson Allen and Oso Ighodaro, all three of which do a better job of complimenting Beal on the defensive end as well. Jones is willing as part of that starting group, but he is too undersized. Having these players guard the likes of George and Kelly Oubre Jr. allowed Beal to use his quickness to pester guards.

It felt different with Nurkic, whose 14 minutes of action were one more than Plumlee was given. The Suns generally survived his time out there - which has not been the case this season - but that is likely because the 76ers had their top two centers unavailable. Adem Bona was very willing and his energy was notable, but he was too eager and picked up a couple of needless fouls.

Time will tell if Nurkic is even capable of playing as much as he did, but he was not the eyesore he has been and tied Plumlee for a team-high seven boards. Really though this was about Ighodaro, who played 21 minutes and provided all of the spark and bounce in the paint on both ends that has been sorely lacking this season.

There will be much tougher tests ahead - and the opponent did help - but this was a great start for the franchise having made such a seismic lineup change. It also appeared to light a fire under Beal, who was as active as he has been all season. Rather than torpedo his trade value by having him come off the bench, it may end up being just the change to kickstart his faltering campaign.