Nurkic said he and Suns coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t talk for two months. This is consistent with him saying Budenholzer didn’t inform him about a decision not to play him Jan. 9 against Atlanta.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was unceremoniously benched. He has not played in nine straight Suns games, all by coach Mike Budenholzer’s decision. Prior to that, Budenholzer had moved Nurkic to a reserve ...