Suns coach Alvin Gentry inserted center Marcin Gortat and swingman Jared Dudley into the starting lineup, putting Gortat into the spot of Robin Lopez, who had been groomed as a future franchise center, and Dudley in place of guard Vince Carter, who likely won't be with the Suns next season.

Gortat, 27, has received minutes and produced the numbers as if he were a starter and embraces the idea of a bigger role in the future. Sunday was his first start as a Suns center.

Gentry said a big part of the reason to start Gortat is to prevent him from playing 18 consecutive minutes, as he often is called on to do to close halves when he enters in the middle of the first and third quarters.

Lopez and Carter had been struggling preceding Sunday's move.