PG Dragic asserting himself as season winds down

The Suns have lost eight consecutive games, but at least one of their players is finishing the season strong.

Point guard Goran Dragic was brilliant in Phoenix’s 111-107 loss to Golden State on Friday, scoring 32 points on 11-of-13 shooting while playing 43 minutes. The performance may have been the exclamation point on what has been a strong second half for Dragic. Check out his numbers pre- and post-All-Star break:

Pre: 14 points, 6.3 assists per game, 44.0 percent shooting, 31.4 percent from 3-point range.

Post: 16.2 points, 8.9 assists per game, 45.1 percent shooting, 32.4 percent from 3-point range.

“Right now he’s budding to be one of the top 10 point guards in this league,” coach Lindsey Hunter said. “If he can bring it like that next year from the beginning, he’ll be an All-Star.”

Hunter said that with the right pieces around him, Dragic can be a championship-level point guard.

“I played with Chauncey Billups, and while Chauncey was more of a leader and more of a cerebral point guard, he doesn’t have any of the things this kid has,” Hunter said. “This kid has jets, he’s athletic, he has good size. … He’s really good. I’m glad I got a chance to coach him.”

Knuckling down

Hunter said that if he does return as coach next season, he’ll build on the changes he’s made as interim coach, including how the Suns play and, just as importantly, practice.

“There will be a lot of things,” he said. “Preparation, time of preparation. Not longer practices but how we even approach it in the locker room. How we dress. You won’t be able to come in to (US Airways Center) with sweats on. Everybody will have the same thing on.”

Told he sounds “old school,” Hunter chuckled.

“I just think that’s the way it should be,” he said. “You don’t come to work … this guy has sweats and a hood on and this guy has funky little cut-off stuff. I don’t like that. Once you enter the building you’re at work.”

Back to Bakersfield

The Suns sent guard Diante Garrett to the Bakersfield Jam of the DLeague, where he’ll likely finish out the season. President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said Garrett will stay with Bakersfield throughout the D-League playoffs. When: 6 p.m. Where: US Airways Center. TV/radio: FSAZ/ KTAR-AM (620). Hornets update: New Orleans (26-50) is on the third stop of a five-game road swing, having already lost at Golden State and Utah. Ex-Suns C Robin Lopez is averaging 11.1 points.