News Suns Team Notes

[Phoenix Suns]

How will it work for the Phoenix Suns when everyone is healthy?

With the return of Jalen Green imminent, how will Jordan Ott and his staff allocate minutes to everyone on the team? What exactly will everyone’s minutes look like and whose minutes are up for grabs?

There are 48 minutes in an NBA game, with five players, so that gives us 240 total minutes to play around with.

Lets start by getting the easy minutes out of the way:

Devin Booker will play 36 minutes every game. The combination of Mark Williams, Oso Ighodaro, and spot Nick Richards minutes will eat up 48 minutes at center. Now we are left with 156 minutes to divvy up.

Without a true power forward on the roster, those minutes are going to Dillon Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Royce O’Neale. Each guy has their own strengths and weaknesses and Brooks’ minutes are not going to be cut, nor should Dunn’s minutes. Brooks will remain around 30 minutes a game, and Dunn will stay around 18 minutes. 132 minutes down, 108 minutes to go.

This is where it starts to get hard because Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, Jamaree Bouyea, and O’Neale have all played extremely well this season. When Green is fully healthy, he will play roughly 28 minutes a game. Now we are down to 80 minutes. Gillespie’s playmaking and shooting have earned him at least 24 minutes a game, and he probably deserves more. However, Ott has elected to go with Allen over Gillespie late in games so far this season, and did so against the Knicks most recently; therefore, we’ll keep his minutes as is. That leaves us with 56 minutes left for Allen, O’Neale, Goodwin, and Bouyea.

Allen’s ability to shoot the ball and create his own shot this season has earned him 24-28 minutes. Since returning from injury, he has been a menace at getting loose balls and forcing deflections, in addition to his elite 3-point shooting abilities. We’ll go with 26 to keep the math easy in my brain. Next up, O’Neale is too good a shooter and connector to play less than 20 minutes a game. He is averaging 2.9 3-point makes per game on 42% shooting from long range. O’Neale should continue to play 20 minutes a night, and even that feels too few.

So where does that leave us?

16 minutes left with two players who have more than earned minutes, Goodwin and Bouyea. I am even leaving out Isaiah Livers, who has played spot minutes all season long. Not only that, Rasheer Fleming has just barely cracked the rotation in the last couple of weeks.

But for now, the minutes should go to Goodwin, who is one of the best rebounders and loose-ball magnets in the NBA. He embodies what this Suns team is at its core. Bouyea has played efficient, exceptional basketball and will be the first guy Ott turns to when other players get injured. As Rod Argent pointed out in an article on Bouyea, extending his two-way contract for as long as possible is helpful towards keeping the Suns under the luxury tax this season.

This is a great problem the Suns have. A team that many thought had the bleakest future in the NBA has assembled a roster where every player 1-to-15 deserves minutes. Ott has more than earned the benefit of the doubt so far this season, so how he ultimately decides to deploy lineups and rotations, I trust him implicitly. Ott has already shown this season that he is not afraid to be fluid with the rotations, and so far everyone has accepted their role happily, whether it be on or off the court. But there are also certain lineups and combinations I am very excited to see, including:

Jalen Green and Mark Williams are the two newcomers who can help each other the most. Green’s ability to get to the rim should create more opportunities for Williams to get easy putback dunks and lobs. Green’s speed in transition will also be a weapon, and the Suns’ leading rebounder needs to find Green for early outlet passes to get into transition.

Assuming Booker’s usual rotation of playing the first 10 minutes of the first and third quarters of basketball, Green will likely be staggered to finish those quarters. Will the Suns go ultra athletic with Ighodaro-Dunn-Green-Goodwin-Gillespie five-man group? Throw Brooks into that mix, and it would be one of the most athletic lineups in basketball.

Last but not least, will Green and Gillespie mesh? Gillespie’s ability to run the offense and set Green will work if Green allows it to happen. If Green is always on the floor with Booker or Gillespie, he will never have the responsibility of being the lead ball handler and decision maker on the floor. His role will be simple: defend at a high level and get buckets on offense. To become a superstar, Green will have to develop his playmaking, but this season, his role will be to not mess up what this 23-15 Suns team has going right now.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-minutes-jalen-green-return-jordan-ott-depth

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Seven Days of Sun, Week 12: Suns are sitting 6th in the West and it suddenly feels very real

The Phoenix Suns are sitting in the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Mid January. Say that out loud a couple of times and let it breathe. Those are words I did not expect to type outside of October this season. This team is not exceeding expectations; they are running them over and checking the rearview mirror. And they are doing it while playing some of the cleanest, most connected basketball in the league right now.

The Phoenix Suns have the best record in the NBA since Christmas. pic.twitter.com/onj0gHojyZ

— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 12, 2026

Week 12 flirted with perfection. Had it not been for a Kevin Durant buzzer-beater, this thing goes 4-0. Even so, as the week wraps, Durant’s current team is staring up at the Suns in the standings. That sentence would have sounded like bad fan fiction back last summer. Yet here we are, living in it.

What did we learn this week? That it is really good to have Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale on your team. Because they took turns having nights that mattered. Not loud nights. Not headline nights. Margin nights. The kind that quietly tilt games in your favor.

Devin Booker did not have to drop 30 every time out. He scored 13 against Memphis. He scored 17 against Washington. Both were comfortable wins. That tells you everything. This team is locked in on the margins right now. The loose balls. The extra pass. The timely three. The hustle that never shows up cleanly in the box score. That is winning basketball, and the Suns are living there at the moment.

Now comes the real question. Does it hold? Can this sustain as the Suns pack their bags and head out on the road? That is the test. But if you are wondering what Week 12 actually looked like in real time, here it is.

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Week 12 Record: 3-1​

@ Houston Rockets, L, 100-7​

• Possession Differential: -3.0
• Turnover Differential: -4
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -4

Monday in Houston was pure Murphy’s Law for the Suns, a night where the universe kept tripping them on the way to the rim. Travel chaos, a delayed takeoff, clock malfunctions, and endless stoppages set the tone.

Still, Phoenix fought through it, led at halftime, and made one last push before tired legs betrayed them. Then, because basketball loves irony, Kevin Durant buried the buzzer-beater. Second made three on 12 tries. Script written.

@ Memphis Grizzlies, W, 117-98​

• Possession Differential: +3.4
• Turnover Differential: +1
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: 0

Wednesday night was pure Cobra Kai basketball. Memphis showed up with nearly $81 million in street clothes, and the Suns showed no mercy in a win that never felt competitive.

Phoenix suffocated the Grizzlies early, holding them under 25 points in every quarter and under 100 for the fifth time this season. Then came the avalanche. 22 made threes, a season high, raining in from everyone.

When a team limps in, you sweep the leg. Phoenix did exactly that.

vs. New York Knicks, W, 112-107​

• Possession Differential: +2.9
• Turnover Differential: -8
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -7

Phoenix felt the wobble against the Knicks, but refused to fall. A 12-point third-quarter cushion gave them air, and when New York came swinging, the Suns answered with grit.

Grayson Allen turned into a menace, cashing free throws and making the play, sprinting past Mikal Bridges to fire the ball off him and seal it. Brunson blinked. Phoenix didn’t. Another win built on effort, pressure, and zero interest in backing down.

vs. Washington Wizards, W, 112-93​

• Possession Differential: -1.6
• Turnover Differential: –
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: +3

This was supposed to be a trap game. It looked like one on paper, felt like one in the schedule, and smelled like one with bags half packed for the East Coast.

The Suns never flinched.

Phoenix came out sharp, connected, and borderline rude, piling up 32 assists on 40 made shots and letting the bench crack it open in the second quarter. Pressure everywhere. Hands everywhere. Washington unraveled because Phoenix made them. Run straight through the trap, take the win, and wake up as the sixth seed in the West. Clean work.

Inside the Possession Game​

• Weekly Possession Differential: +1.7
• Weekly Turnover Differential: -19
• Offensive Rebounding Differential: -8
• Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +9

It was the Suns’ best week of the season when it comes to turnover differential, and even though they lost the battle on the glass, they still walked away 9 games over .500 for the first time all year. Translation: the way they are living off extra possessions right now is by taking care of the ball, and ball security continues to turn into wins.

Dig a little deeper, and the week gets even louder. Phoenix finished at plus 40, tied for second best in the NBA. Their defensive rating checked in at 101.8, third best in the league for Week 12. Net rating. Plus 10.8, also third. They ranked seventh in assist percentage, fourth in fast break points, and tied for second in fewest fast break points allowed. Add in a league-best 52.8% shooting in clutch situations, and it is clear. This team can beat you in a lot of different ways.

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Week 13 Preview​

Week 13. Lucky 13, if you are into that sort of thing. How lucky will the Suns be this week? And how much luck will they need to hold on to the sixth seed?

It kicks off with the longest road trip of the season, a six-game journey that sends the Suns straight into an East Coast grind. This is the trip. The next time Phoenix plays at home will not be until Sunday, January 25.

It starts Tuesday night in South Beach against the Miami Heat. Then it is up to Detroit on Thursday. After that, New York on Saturday. Every one of those teams sits above .500 and is firmly in the playoff picture out East.

The back half of the trip softens a bit, but this front end is a real test. A test of focus. A test of legs. A test of whether this Suns group can carry its identity across time zones and hostile buildings. This is where you find out what travels.

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Votin’ time! How will the Suns do next week?

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ference-week-12-analysis-connected-basketball

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Guard Rotation Outlook: What to do with all this depth

The Phoenix Suns have a “problem” that every head coach dreams of. They have… too many guards?

And Jalen Green is on the brink of a return after his prolonged absence due to reaggravating his hamstring. He is expected to return at some point during Phoenix’s upcoming road trip.

"That's the plan."

Jordan Ott on Jalen Green potentially making his return during the Suns upcoming road trip pic.twitter.com/VJVp6kZjH8

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) January 12, 2026

Let’s be real. There is no such thing as too much guard depth. The Suns would argue this after a series of injuries to their backcourt throughout the season. At the same time, those injuries opened opportunities that wouldn’t have existed for the Jamaree Bouyeas and Jordan Goodwins of the world. Even Collin Gillespie, to an extent.

Devin Booker, Jalen Green, and Grayson Allen were all locks for significant minutes entering the year. Their absences have provided unexpected opportunities that have been taken advantage of and then some.

This “stat me” line below is in honor of Dave King for his famous “stat me” bit throughout his podcasting career.

Stat Me: Devin Booker has now played less than 35 minutes in 7 of the last 11 games. He only played 25 minutes in the win against the Wizards last night.

Guard depth is good. Winning games convincingly helps.

Blessing in Disguise?​

Jalen Green went down. Devin Booker missed time. Grayson Allen was banged up for a while. Maybe it was for the best all along? This team’s depth is battle-tested.

Those injuries opened the door for Jordan Ott to build extended trust in Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Jamaree Bouyea. The playoffs are all about being ready for any situation that gets thrown your way. It’s a nice feeling as a coach to have a pair of guys who may receive DNP’s or single-digit minutes at full strength who are ready to step up at any moment should there be foul trouble, an injury, a suspension, etc. Those reps are important.

This is what we can expect the Suns’ rotation to look like upon Jalen Green’s return. We can only hope the rest of the squad stays healthy so we can get a glimpse of what they look like at full strength.

With Jalen Green's return any day now, here's what you can expect the Suns' rotation to look like:

Devin Booker
Jalen Green
Dillon Brooks
Royce O'Neale
Mark Williams
—
Collin Gillespie
Grayson Allen
Jordan Goodwin
Ryan Dunn
Oso Ighodaro
—
Jamaree Bouyea
Rasheer Fleming

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) January 12, 2026

Jamaree Bouyea will be buried as the “sixth” guard on the depth chart, but based on what he’s shown us, he is fully capable of providing impactful minutes. Jordan Goodwin is a dog. He must continue to play, and I believe Ott will play him at the three and possibly even the four in smaller lineups to accommodate him.

Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen off the bench is arguably the best bench backcourt in the entire NBA.

Dillon Brooks was asked about Jalen Green’s return and what it means for the Suns, and brought up a great point about leading the second unit in scoring out of the first rotation of subs. Translation: Phoenix will be better equipped to handle moments where both Booker and Brooks are on the bench for extended stretches.

Dillon Brooks on what he believes Jalen Green will bring right away to Suns in his return from a right hamstring strain despite having last played Nov. 8: "Scoring on that 2nd unit when you're the first sub coming out and going right back in. He's going to give a lot of scoring… pic.twitter.com/Lljtt2SxUy

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 12, 2026

The Suns are surging and have moved up to 5th overall in NBA.com’s Power Rankings. With Jalen Green’s return, that should only boost them to finish the final chunk of the season strong as they look to secure a playoff spot, and possibly… home-court advantage in the 1st Round if they go on a run.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...pdate-guard-depth-rotation-nba-power-rankings

 

[JJ]

OH MAN where do I even start with this Suns situation?? Look, as a Bills fan I know ALL about watching your team exceed expectations and then wondering when the other shoe is gonna drop. But honestly? I'm with the article here - STAND PAT.

These Suns remind me of what we've built in Buffalo. You got guys who PLAY HARD, who actually LIKE each other, and who don't need to be the main guy every night. That's rare in the NBA these days where everyone wants their stats and their shots.

The Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale point is spot on. Why would you trade guys shooting 37.5% and 42% from three just to "do something"?? That's the kind of move that makes GMs feel smart but actually makes teams worse. Trust me, I've watched enough bad Bills front offices over the years to know when you've got something good, you DON'T MESS WITH IT.

And the Jamaree Bouyea situation is fascinating. Dude came in as insurance and now he's forcing a real conversation about roster construction. That's how you build depth - you give guys opportunities and the cream rises to the top.

The only thing I'd push back on is being TOO passive at the deadline. If a legitimate power forward falls into your lap for the right price, you gotta pull the trigger. But panic trading Royce or Grayson for some mid package? NAH.

Jalen Green coming back healthy is basically like making a trade anyway. $33 million player who hasn't contributed yet? That's your deadline acquisition right there!

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Bright Side Wonders, Week 12: Suns stay hot

It was another strong week for the Phoenix Suns. The team went 3-1 on the week and improved their record to 5-1 in 2026. After losing to the Houston Rockets to start the week, Phoenix picked up three consecutive wins against the Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks and Washington Wizards respectively.

Here are the main questions for Week 12 that we want your thoughts on:

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Protecting home court​

After the Suns dominated the Grizzlies on Wednesday, the team went home and beat the Knicks in a close one and defeated the Wizards with ease, no Sun played more than 29 minutes in the game. While they were underdogs against New York, Phoenix was favored against both Washington and Memphis and won both by 19. The team has the third-most home wins of any team in the Western Conference and still hasn’t lost a game against a team not in the play-in or playoffs since October.

Winners of nine of their last 11, are the Suns playing their best basketball of the season?

Kevin Durant with some words about his former team​

The Suns’ loss to the Rockets last Monday was their only loss of the week. It was a tough game that went down to the final moments, when Kevin Durant hit a game-winning three. After the game Durant talked about the win and what it was like to get a victory over his former team that he felt he was “scapegoated,” for all the problems that the team had last year going 36-46 and missing the playoffs and play-in completely despite high expectations.

Kevin Durant post game on hitting a game winner over Phoenix:

“A place I didn’t want to leave and my first time being, I don’t want to sound to dramatic but I will, kicked out of a place.

It felt like I been scapegoated for the issues we had as a team last year, so yeah it… pic.twitter.com/Pi5xkz74ID

— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) January 6, 2026

Do you think Durant was scapegoated for the Suns’ issues last year? Do you think the team would have the amount of success they’ve had this year if he was still on the team?

On the road for nearly two weeks​

Phoenix won’t play at the Mortgage Matchup center again until January 25th. The team has six-straight road games against the Eastern Conference, including their first looks this year against the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. The Suns are 4-2 on the year against the East and picked up two wins this week against them this past week against the Knicks and Wizards.

The six-game road trip is tied for the Suns’ longest of the year and its first of the season. What do you expect the Suns record to be during the road trip? If Jalen Green returns during the road trip, what are your expectations for him?

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For more questions on the Suns follow @HoldenSherman1 on X for content after every game.

Suns beat Knicks 112-107. It was a back and forth at the end but Devin Booker and Grayson Allen made huge plays to seal it for Phoenix down the stretch. @BrightSideSun

1/

— Holden Sherman (@HoldenSherman1) January 10, 2026

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...469/bright-side-wonders-week-12-suns-stay-hot

 

[JJ]

Look, I gotta weigh in on this Durant scapegoat thing because it's been bugging me.

Was KD scapegoated? PARTIALLY. But here's the thing - when you're making $47 million and you're supposed to be THE GUY, you're gonna catch heat when things go sideways. That's just how it works. Ask Josh Allen about the scrutiny he got before we started winning in Buffalo. The difference is Allen took that criticism and used it as fuel. Durant... well, he's always been a little sensitive about this stuff.

BUT - and this is a big but - the Suns brass absolutely used him as a convenient excuse for their own roster construction failures. You can't build a team with no depth, no playmaking, and then act shocked when it doesn't work. That's on the front office, not KD.

Now here's the REAL question everyone's dancing around: Would the Suns be 23-15 with Durant still on the roster? ABSOLUTELY NOT. And I don't think that's controversial at all. This team's identity is built on defense, hustle, and depth. Durant doesn't fit that mold. He's a bucket getter, not a grinder. The Suns needed to become a TEAM, not a collection of stars waiting for someone to bail them out.

As for the road trip - I'm calling it 4-2. Miami's gonna be tough, Knicks already got handled, and Philly's a mess. Detroit's sneaky good though. If Green comes back healthy and buys into what they're doing instead of trying to be the hero? This team could make some SERIOUS noise.

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns Reacts Survey: Redefining success for the surprising Suns

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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Expectations are changing. Narratives are sliding sideways. The Phoenix Suns are outperforming what most of us thought they would be at the start of the season, myself very much included. I had them pegged at 35–47. They are already 71% of the way to that number while only 48% of the schedule is gone. Was I wrong? Absolutely. And thank God for that.

I did not see a sustainable offense beyond Devin Booker. I did not trust the second unit. I questioned Collin Gillespie’s growth, Mark Williams’ availability, and whether Dillon Brooks could give you anything reliable offensively. I had no idea if a rookie head coach could herd this group into something functional, let alone successful. Three months in, the returns have been loud and positive. Fifth seed in the West. Climbing. While other teams wobble, the Suns have an identity, consistency, and actual team basketball.

I was not alone. Prior to the season commencing, 33% of the community had Phoenix finishing fourth in the Pacific.

They are tied for first, although the Lakers lead by a percentage point or two. But both are 8.5 games back of OKC.

So now the question changes. How do you define disappointment? What result leaves you staring at the floor with that familiar gut punch? Last season was heartbreak and disappointment rolled into one. This year feels different. Is making the postseason enough? Or have expectations jumped to the point where anything short of a title stings?

That is this week’s Suns Reacts. Cast your vote and tell me where you land.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ba-standings-pacific-division-jordan-ott-2026

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Jalen Green is nearing a return, and expectations need recalibration

We are right on the edge of seeing Jalen Green back in the lineup. Finally. It has been more than two months since the Suns last had the young, electric former number two overall pick on the floor. He announced himself with a 29-point debut, then pulled his hamstring early in the first quarter the very next game. Since then, it has been a long wait, filled with anticipation, patience, and a whole lot of checking injury reports.

We do know this much. He will not play on Thursday against Detroit. Still, head coach Jordan Ott made it clear the return is close, saying, “He is there.”

Per Coach Ott on Jalen Green- He is there. He's been playing with the players and coaches. We just need to keep him moving in the right direction. He is taking steps every day. We will continue to assess, but he is moving in the right direction.
He will not play in the next game…

— Amanda_Pflugrad (@Amanda_Pflugrad) January 13, 2026

The injury status of Devin Booker remains up in the air after he twisted his ankle on a selfless defensive play while trying to block a shot against Miami on Tuesday. We still do not know if we are going to see Booker and Green on the floor together when Green makes his return. How Suns is that, eh?

When Green comes back, there is going to be an adjustment period. I expect it. It matters to keep the long view in focus, not the nightly returns or the early results once Jalen starts playing again. His presence is going to shift things. It should. He is a player who demands a certain shot diet, and that is going to cut into others. Those others have played well this season, often stepping outside their original roles and excelling.

When Green returns, and hopefully with Booker alongside him, those roles are going to settle back into what they were always meant to be before the season started. The real question is whether that version of the team adds up to something that actually works.

While we are all excited to see Green play in Phoenix, it is worth grounding ourselves in who he is as a player. He is not overly efficient. He is not a great three-point shooter. He can rush his shot at times, especially from deep, and that can spiral into a few possessions that make you bury your face in your hands.

If the Suns drop a couple of games along the way, I can already picture the pitchforks and torches coming out. This is where I am asking for a pause. Myself included, because I know the frustrations are coming for me too.

The long-term goal entering the season, as it relates to Green, was to give him a real runway. To see what he actually has as a player. To see whether a change of scenery can help him grow. To see if maturity can take root. To see if being surrounded by a group built on selflessness and camaraderie, something Green has already touched on in postgame interviews, allows him to take a step forward.

If that happens, the Suns may have found something real in the Kevin Durant trade that brought him to Phoenix. If it does not, then the organization has some difficult questions to answer about what comes next. That is why this season for Jalen Green has always been about evaluation.

The hamstring injury complicates that. The evaluation was paused. In his absence, the team has excelled. Expectations have shifted. Ideas about what this group can be and what it can realistically achieve are changing in real time.

If losses start to stack up and his play dips, there needs to be a moment of centering. A reminder of what the expectations were at the start of the season. A willingness to allow him the space to reinsert himself into the lineup and find his footing.

That is really the point of all this. A reminder, to myself as much as anyone, that patience matters here. That does not mean avoiding criticism. Being critical is part of being a fan. You watch. You react. You want better. But that criticism has to come with context, understanding, and a clear view of the end goal.

So as Green inches closer, this becomes less about the next game and more about the next stretch. About resisting the urge to overreact to every miss, every clunky possession, every night where the fit feels awkward. This was always an evaluation season for him, even if the injury delayed the clock.

Patience does not mean blind optimism, and criticism does not have to mean panic. It means remembering why this experiment started in the first place, giving it the space to breathe, and judging it honestly when there is enough runway to do so.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...-suns-evaluation-patience-lineup-expectations

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Injury Update: Devin Booker questionable for Detroit after Miami injury scare

Devin Booker showed a brand of toughness on Tuesday against Miami that sticks with you. The kind that shows up in a split-second decision. A chase down block. Full sprint. He went airborne, climbed so high he nearly clipped his head on the backboard, all in the name of a defensive stand.

damn, Booker limping after this amazing block pic.twitter.com/jpZ7ULEuYQ

— Cage (@ridiculouscage) January 14, 2026

Then gravity did its thing. He came down awkwardly on his left ankle in the third quarter, crumpled, and had to make his way to the locker room.

But like Lieutenant Speirs, he came back.

That is not only toughness, at least in my view, it is leadership. Devin Booker rarely gets his flowers in that department, and I think we know why. He is quiet. He is not out there barking orders or making a show of it, not hunting cameras or moments. Some people mistake that silence for a lack of leadership. In Booker’s case, it has always been the opposite. He leads by example, and Tuesday night was another entry in that long-running file.

You never want a player putting himself in harm’s way, especially one this important. Booker believed he was good enough to go. He taped it up, came back out in the fourth quarter, and tried to will something into existence even as the night slipped away and the Suns took the loss.

Now the bill comes due. The injury report for Detroit is out. Booker’s name is on it. His designation? Questionable.

Devin Booker is questionable for tomorrow night‘s game against the Detroit Pistons pic.twitter.com/yqud6GD0G8

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) January 14, 2026

This is good news. Booker loves playing in Detroit. He is a Michigan guy, and that building has always brought something extra out of him. The timing still stings, with Madison Square Garden up next, another stage he seems to relish, but a questionable tag matters. That is not out. That is not doubtful. There is still daylight here.

Even if he sits, the designation tells a story. The injury might not be as severe as it first appeared. When you consider how high he was on that block attempt, the way he came crashing back down and landed on that ankle, it easily could have gone sideways in a much bigger way. He returned to the game. He tested it. That alone suggests this may look worse on replay than it actually is.

We’ll continue to monitor his progress as the Suns continue their six-game road trip over the next 10 days.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...e-status-detroit-pistons-leadership-toughness

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Booker faces an uncertain homecoming against the East leading Pistons

Who: Phoenix Suns (24-16) @ Detroit Pistons (28-10)

When: 5:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Little Caesars Arena — Detroit, Michigan

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBATV

Listen: KMVP 98.7

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The Phoenix Suns head to Detroit to face the best team in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, and Tobias Harris have all missed a handful of games in January. The Pistons are well-rested, with their last game on Saturday.

For the Suns, Jalen Green’s availability looms over this road trip, as does the health of Devin Booker’s ankle. He is questionable for this game against the Pistons. Just like New Orleans, the Detroit Pistons are a homecoming for Booker, who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which could bring a different edge to these games if he is healthy enough to play.

The Suns, having started 1-4 to begin the season, have only lost back-to-back games twice since then. Once to Oklahoma City and Denver, and another to Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.

Against the Heat on Tuesday, the Suns’ defense struggled to stop Miami’s stars, and they will need to play much better against whoever is playing for the Pistons. The Suns decisively won the possession battle against the Heat, but poor defense and poor 3-point shooting were too much for the Suns to overcome to win. The Suns will have to play much better to win in Detroit.

Probable Starters​

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Jordan Goodwin – AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain – Mask)
• Royce O’Neale – PROBABLE (Left Biceps Contusion)
• Devin Booker – QUESTIONABLE (Left Ankle Sprain)
• Nigel Hayes-Davis – QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
• Jamaree Bouyea – OUT (Concussion Protocol)
• Jalen Green – OUT (Right Hamstring Strain)

Pistons​

• Jalen Duren — PROBABLE (Right Ankle Strain)
• Tobias Harris — PROBABLE (Left Hip Strain)

What to Watch For​

The Suns and Pistons are two very similar teams, which will make this an entertaining game to watch.

The Pistons are the second-best defensive team in the NBA and second in offensive rebound percentage. The Suns are sixth and fifth in those categories, respectively. Whoever controls the glass in this game will come away victorious. With the front line of Duren and Stewart for the Pistons, Mark Williams will have his hands full defensively and on the boards. He is coming off one of his best games of the season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 rebounds against the Heat, and the Suns utilized his size by posting him up against the Heat’s switching defense. Can Phoenix continue to get Williams free against Detroit?

The Pistons are 28th in the NBA in turnovers per game, averaging 15.9 per contest this season. The Suns and Pistons are tied for first in the NBA in steals per game, and the Pistons lead the NBA in blocks. Both teams will extend their aggressive defenses to create easy opportunities on the other end. Will Gillespie, Booker, and Brooks take care of the ball well enough to ensure a Suns victory?

Key to a Suns Win​

The Suns shot a putrid 14-of-48 from the 3-point line in Miami, Brooks was 1-of-10, and Booker was 1-of-5. The Suns need to shoot better from the 3-point line if they want to win against the Pistons. Defensively, it all starts and stops with slowing down one of the best guards in the league, Cunningham. Brooks’s size and strength give him the ability to potentially slow down Cunningham, and the rest of the Suns have to hold up when Brooks is not on the floor.

The Suns also need to start the game fast. The Pistons have not played since Saturday, plus Cunningham, Harris, and Duren all missed the last two or more games. If Detroit comes out rusty, Phoenix has to be ready to pounce on the opportunity.

Prediction​

Suns do not lose back-to-backs.

Suns 110, Pistons 105

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...ooker-injury-update-cade-cunningham-stats-nba

 

[Phoenix Suns]

The Devin Booker-less Suns fight, but fall late to the Detroit Pistons, 108-105

Despite losing 108-105 to the Detroit Pistons, the Phoenix Suns should hold their heads high for how well they competed. With Devin Booker ruled out hours before tipoff, the Suns went toe-to-toe with the best team in the Eastern Conference. The game was a knockdown, drag you out of the ring kind of fight. The Pistons are one of the most physical teams in the NBA, and the Suns fought right back.

Grasyon Allen, despite his struggles shooting late in the game, was incredible for the Suns. He scored 33 points on 11-of-25 shooting and was 7-for-20 from the 3-point line. He picked up the slack for Dillon Brooks, who had one of his worst games in a Suns uniform. He scored 16 points on 4-of-16 from the field and was in foul trouble for the majority of the game. Without Booker, the Suns’ game plan was to play ultra-aggressive defense and shoot a ton of threes on offense. It almost worked, but the Suns were only able to score 15 points in the fourth quarter after scoring 90 points through the first three quarters.

Aside from Allen’s 33 points, the stars of the game for Phoenix came from the bench. Oso Ighodaro scored 10 points and had six steals, while Jordan Goodwin scored 7 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, recorded three steals, and a block. The Suns’ bench did enough to win them the game, but the offense went flat in the fourth quarter.

The Suns defensively flustered Cade Cunningham, who scored 10 points on 3-of-16 shooting, dished out 11 assists, but committed five turnovers. Duncan Robinson scored 19 points to lead Detroit, while Jalen Duren dominated the Suns in the paint. He scored 16 points and grabbed 18 rebounds. With Cunningham struggling, Tobias Harris and Jaden Ivey came to the rescue and scored 31 combined points for the Pistons to eke out a win over the Booker-less Suns.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Suns could not hit the broad side of the barn to start the first quarter. They started the game 1-of-8 (1-of-7 from three) and found themselves in an early 11-3 hole. The game could have gotten away from Phoenix if not for Grayson Allen. He blocked Cade Cunningham in transition, then stripped Tobias Harris in transition, and stole the ball from Duncan Robinson, all in a four-minute stretch. His tenacity on the defensive end set the tone. Allen then got going on offense, hitting a circus layup over Jalen Duren, a 3-point shot, a pair of free throws, and a deep three to get the Suns an early 15-13 lead with 5:36 left in the first.

The Pistons’ bench unit responded, as Jaden Ivey came in and scored a quick five points, but Ighodaro matched him with multiple finishes, including this poster over Isaiah Stewart.

Oso Ighodaro catches Isaiah Stewart at the rim & throws it down.

Great probe from Jordan Goodwin to set the scene for the body caught too.

Suns 2nd unit is a game changing group in energy & activity. pic.twitter.com/OwKBl1QGw6

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner (@StephenPG3) January 16, 2026

With that flat-footed Ighodaro poster, the Suns finished the quarter on an explosive 14-3 run. Two Collin Gillespie 3-point bombs and an Allen quick trigger end of the quarter 30 foot 3-point jumper were the catalysts. Allen finished the quarter with 13 points as the Suns led 32-23, without Devin Booker.

The Suns’ bench continued to outplay the Pistons’ bench in the second quarter. As impressive as the shot-making was, the Suns’ switching, aggressive defense flummoxed the Pistons on offense. The Suns’ defense forced multiple turnovers and kept the Pistons’ ball screen-heavy offense at half court. An early 10-2 advantage in points off turnovers led Phoenix to a 42-27 lead halfway through the second period. Detroit could not manage any semblance of offense against the five man unit of Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie, and Isaiah Livers.

Then the Dillon Brooks portion of the game happened. After a Royce O’Neale triple, Brooks made another 3-point shot on the next possession, got fouled, and completed the four-point play. The Suns surged ahead 50-34, and then the wheels came all the way off this game.

Brooks started instigating and drawing fouls on the Pistons, which had Jalen Green and Booker laughing on the bench. Then, the Pistons’ Ron Holland Jr. and Brooks got tangled up, leading to a Brooks flagrant foul, swiping at the ball after being stripped and catching Holland in the face. A kerfuffle ensued that led to Duncan Robinson half-heartedly shoving Brooks, resulting in a technical foul. A few plays later, Holland steamrolled over Brooks and was originally called for a charge, but that call was overturned to a blocking foul. The blocking call was Brooks’s fourth foul in the first half. This coincided with a Pistons 12-1 run that got them to within five, down 54-49. All the hard work the Suns had done had almost vanished.

But it was Holland and Stewart’s turn to instigate. Holland picked up Gillespie full court and was incredibly physical. Gillespie eventually drew a foul on Holland and then went in for a dead-ball layup after the whistle and was sent to the floor by Stewart. Stewart picked up the dead-ball technical foul. Gillespie hit his free throws, and then the Suns’ first-half hero hit two 3-point shots to finish the half with 21 points, and the Suns had a seven-point lead at halftime, 63-56.

Second Half​

In the third quarter, the Pistons woke up. The Suns came out flat on both ends of the floor. Perhaps it was fatigue or just the simple fact that the Suns were missing the best player on the team in Booker. Duren and Robinson were lights out for the Pistons: Robinson shot the lights out from the 3-point line, and Duren dominated the Suns on the glass. He overpowered Williams and everyone else on the floor and snatched every board. The Suns were physically dominated on the glass, and the Pistons gained an 81-76 lead midway through the third. Offensively, the Suns struggled to make any shot from long range after connecting on 10 3-point field goals in the first half.

However, once the Suns went to the bench, their energy and effectiveness picked up again. Time after time this season, the Suns’ bench has been the catalyst for staying in games, and it was again against Detroit. When Goodwin, Dunn, and Ighodaro check in, the Suns’ swarming defense hits another level that creates opportunities on the other end of the floor. When the Suns didn’t score in transition this quarter, it was Gillespie who took over, making difficult midrange pullups and deep pullup triples. The Suns’ bench was so good that, despite being thoroughly outplayed for the majority of the third quarter, the Suns still led 90-89 with one quarter to play.

The fourth quarter was a struggle for both teams offensively. After a Dunn dish to Williams to start the quarter, the Suns scored a total of six points in the first six minutes of the quarter. The Pistons were slightly better, Duren got free for a couple of easy finishes, and Harris scored some difficult midrange shots to go on an extended 13-2 run and take a 102-96 lead. When Brooks checked in for Phoenix, he tried to get it going by isolating against Pistons defenders, but his usual midrange shots just were not falling. His night ended early as he fouled out with over two minutes left in the game.

The only offense the Suns could muster for most of the quarter was forcing turnovers that led two fastbreak points. The Suns turned the Pistons over twice, leading to fastbreak layups for Ighodaro and Allen to cut the deficit to 102-100. The Pistons’ only points for the rest of the game came from the free throw line. The Suns were only down 106-102 with two minutes left and had opportunities. The Suns kept generating good looks from the 3-point line for Allen, but he could not hit any of them. The game should have been over, but the Pistons kept missing free throws. Allen finally hit a 3-point shot with 3.1 seconds left in the fourth to cut the Pistons’ lead to 107-105. Robinson went 1-for-2 for the Pistons and the Suns, without any timeouts, threw the ball the length of the floor down to Allen, who got off a desperation heave that sailed off the backboard.

---

Up Next​

The Phoenix Suns face the New York Knicks on Saturday at 5:30 pm Arizona time.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...on-allen-33-points-booker-out-road-trip-fight

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns Trade Punches in Detroit, Fade Again Late

The original post-game podcast on Planet Purple!

• Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
• Click the BELL to turn on notifications.

Watch it right here!

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Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...suns-trade-punches-in-detroit-fade-again-late

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Live by the Dillon, die by the Dillon

Games on the road against quality competition are never easy, and the margins can get razor-thin in a hurry. The Phoenix Suns are coming off two losses where they easily could have walked away with wins in both. When that starts happening, the ‘disease of what if’ begins to creep in.

In this case, that conversation circles around Dillon Brooks.

Everything Brooks has brought to Phoenix, the attitude, the toughness, the edge, has reshaped this team. His brand of basketball, and the way he pulls teammates into that same mindset, is stamped all over the Suns you see now. I would not trade that for anyone. This team needed a cultural overhaul, and Brooks delivered it.

With that said, the next hurdle for him is self-awareness. If that part sharpens even a little, the Suns probably add a few more marks in the win column.

Look at last night. With Devin Booker and Jalen Green out, a combined $86.4 million in payroll, it was clear someone had to carry the load. That someone was Grayson Allen. He finished with 33 points on 11-of-25 shooting and set the tone offensively from the opening tip. Doing that on the road, against the top team in the Eastern Conference, a group with the second-best defensive rating in the NBA, is no small ask. What stood out most, though, was how the Suns stayed true to who they are. They competed. They absorbed the contact. They gutted it out. That says plenty about the culture they are building.

They had plenty of hurdles to clear. Jalen Duren living in the paint. A physical team more than willing to push back. But one of the biggest hurdles ended up being Dillon Brooks himself.

Dirty Play or Tough Defense? Dillon Brooks Flagrant https://t.co/dMaxzhEtUy

— EX-Press Sports (@EXSportsLV) January 16, 2026

The inefficiency was brutal. He finished 4-of-16 from the field for 16 points and fouled out with 6 personals. On paper, that looks like a familiar Dillon Brooks night, especially when the stars are sidelined. He is always willing to take the shots, and I am not going to crush him for that instinct. But there are nights when you can feel it early. When you know you do not have it. Last night was one of those nights for Brooks.

I would have much rather seen more deference to Collin Gillespie or Jordan Goodwin than what we got offensively from Brooks. Gillespie took 10 shots and turned them into 18 points. Goodwin took 8 shots and finished with 7 points. Both were giving the team something cleaner within the flow.

The same theme showed up against Miami. The over-aggressiveness. The emotions creeping over the line. The flow of the game getting junked up late when the Suns were still in it. Every team needs an enforcer, and Phoenix needed one that night. But self-awareness has to step in at some point. No need to exaggerate follow-throughs. That is how Brooks picked up a technical that was later rescinded. That is how he ended up with a flagrant 1 after a missed three that would have tied the game in the final minute. Those moments matter. The Heat capitalized, the lead ballooned, and the Suns never recovered.

Down 3 with <15 seconds left Dillon Brooks kicks his legs out on the shot attempt and grabs then pulls down Andrew Wiggins earning him a flagrant offensive foul, essentially sealing the game for Miami (with replays).

The Suns' color commentator didn't think Brooks grabbed him… pic.twitter.com/lEdItMzFwM

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 14, 2026

Over the last two games, Brooks is shooting 3-of-16 from deep. That comes out to a cool 18.8%. No one is asking him to be something he is not. This is about self-awareness. About understanding what helps the team most in that moment.

The best thing he can give this group is opportunity. Opportunity comes from recognizing when the shot is not there, staying engaged on the floor, and resisting fouls that add nothing and disrupt the rhythm. The Suns are a team built on flow. When that flow gets interrupted, everything tightens.

Brooks can bring the antics. He can bring the edge. Those things have value, especially when Devin Booker and Jalen Green are out there to steady the offense. That is part of his role. When those two are missing, and he is asked to be a stabilizing force, the role changes. The edge still matters. Going over it does not.

So far on this trip, he has crossed that line. Two games. Eleven fouls. Two flagrants. One technical that later got rescinded. The point Norman Powell made still counted. That part does not get taken back.

Yeah, it really is the 85%, 15% equation with Dillon Brooks. You love what he gives you most of the time, and you brace yourself for the part that makes your blood pressure spike. That is the deal. That is the Dillon Brooks experience. You live by the Dillon. You die by the Dillon. Over the last two games, the Suns have died by it.

That is why getting Devin Booker and Jalen Green back matters so much. Their presence shrinks Brooks’ shot diet and lets him slide back into the role where he thrives. The disruptor. The irritant. The emotional anchor who tilts the floor without having to carry the offense. If that comes with a little more cerebral feel and self-awareness layered on top, even better. That is the version of Dillon Brooks this team needs when it is whole again.

Until then? The focus needs to be on making winning plays, not plays that prevent you from winning.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...n-pistons-recap-nba-discipline-self-awareness

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Preview: Suns Face the Knicks in the World’s Most Famous Arena

Who: Phoenix Suns (24-17) @ New York Knicks (25-16)

When: 5:30pm Arizona Time

Where: Madison Square Garden — New York, New York

Watch: NBA TV, Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

---

The Phoenix Suns have their first losing streak of 2026 and their first in over a month. Losses to the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, the Suns had a chance to win the first two games of their six-game road trip, but too many free throws and couldn’t execute in clutch time to get the wins.

The good thing for the Suns? Help might be on the way.

Devin Booker, who missed the team’s last game with an ankle injury that he suffered against the Heat, could return to action tonight. Booker has had major success against the Knicks the past couple of seasons, especially at Madison Square Garden. Last season, he had a 40-point outing, and in the 2023-24 campaign, he hit a game-winning three late.

DEVIN BOOKER FADEAWAY 3 FOR THE LEAD

1.7 seconds remaining Knicks ball…

Suns-Knicks | Live on the NBA App
https://t.co/1VIDFw6r0U pic.twitter.com/O77I2jielr

— NBA (@NBA) November 27, 2023

Just like the Suns, the New York Knicks head into this matchup on a losing streak. They’re also on a two-game losing streak and are 2-7 in their last nine outings. Previously, they had won 11 out of 1,3 including their win in the Cup Championship. Tonight is the Knicks’ first home game in more than a week. They started their road trip against the Suns, losing 112-107.

Can the Suns get back on track against a struggling New York team?

Projected Starting Lineup​

Injury Report​

Suns​

• Devin Booker — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
• Jamaree Bouyea — OUT (Concussion Protocol)
• Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
• Jalen Green — (Right Hamstring Sprain)

Knicks​

• Jalen Brunson — QUESTIONABLE (Right Ankle Sprain)
• Trey Jemison — OUT (G-League)

What to Watch For​

In his last five games against the Knicks, Booker is averaging 32 points and seven assists. Throughout his career, he’s averaged 28.6 points per game against New York. Assuming he plays, does Booker continue his streak of historically strong play against them?

When the two teams faced off in Phoenix last week, Booker scored 31 points, hit four threes and dished in eight assists. Down the stretch of the game, he made numerous big plays to help the Suns secure the win.

After a rough few games getting his legs under him returning from injury, Grayson Allen is playing similarly to how he was at the start of the season when he was the team’s second-leading scorer. Allen scored 30 points for the second time this season in Thursday’s loss to Detroit, going for 33 points, seven threes, and three blocks. After recording three triples and three swats in the first quarter, Allen became the first Sun to ever record such a stat line in a single quarter.

Allen has more points in his last two games, 58, than he did in his previous four games, 41. Does Allen keep his strong scoring going?

Key to a Suns Win​

No matter the opponent, the Suns need to shoot better from the free-throw line than they did against the Pistons. Going 16/25 from the line, one of the main reasons the Suns were in the game down the stretch was because Detroit actually shot a worse percentage from the charity stripe. In the Knicks and Suns’ first matchup of the season, Phoenix executed down the stretch at the line, hitting all six of their attempts in the final 15 seconds to ice the game. The Suns need to get back to knocking down their free throws at a high rate to keep them in games and secure victories.

If Devin Booker doesn’t play, the Suns need to decide who is going to step up as the primary scorer. Last game it was Allen and Collin Gillespie with Dillon Brooks in foul trouble. Despite his injury and availability status progressing in the right direction, Jalen Green remains out. Who will step up if Booker is not able to go.

Prediction​

New York has been struggling and just made a cross-country flight to get back to the East Coast. The Suns look like the healthier and better team right now. Give me Phoenix in a close one as long as Booker plays.

Suns 113, Knicks 109

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...us-madison-square-garden-road-trip-prediction

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Game Recap: Devin Booker, Suns take control late, beat the Knicks 106-99

NEW YORK — The Phoenix Suns defeated the New York Knicks 106-99 on Saturday for their first win of their six-game road trip.

A back-and-forth battle for the majority of the game, both teams had to whether each other’s large runs but the Suns came away victorious, pulling away late. Devin Booker returned from his ankle injury to lead the team in scoring but the victory was a team effort, with six players scoring in double figures. Dillon Brooks had one of his worst shooting nights of the year but it did not matter.

New York’s first game back from a four-game road trip, Knicks fans were loud but the Suns played loud when it mattered most, a contrast from their performances late against the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons earlier this week.

Now 25-17 on the year, the Suns snap their losing streak at two with the second of their Eastern Conference road trip pending.

Game Flow​

First Half​

The Knicks struck first, going ahead 13-6 and forcing Jordan Ott to take a timeout less than four minutes into the game. Karl-Anthony Towns had it going early for New York. Over the next six minutes, scoring was limited with both teams scoring just a combined 17 points. Only four different Suns scored as the score at the end of 12 minutes was 27-19 New York.

In the first quarter, Devin Booker passed a Phoenix Suns legend in the NBA all-time scorer list.

Devin Booker has passed Steve Nash on the @NBA all-time scoring list! pic.twitter.com/Xu9jsic4Wj

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 18, 2026

The Suns went on a 17-4 run to start the second and take their first lead since early in the first, and the team played more balanced on offense. The Knicks responded with a run of their own to retake the lead, thanks in large part to their hot three-point shooting; they hit 63% of their first 13 triples.

After a flurry of runs from both teams, the squads exchanged baskets to end the second half. New York led 56-55 at the break. The two teams’ splits at the half were similar. Phoenix shot 43.9% from the field and 39.1% from three, while New York shot 42.9% from the field and 42.1% from three.

Second Half​

The third quarter was 12 minutes of runs by both teams. Phoenix went on a 10-3 run to go up six which was followed by a 16-0 run by New York to give them a 10-point lead. Madison Square Garden was loud and the Knicks fans were roaring.

DEUUUUCCEEEEEEE

19 PTS | 4 AST | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/0J4HgQ7Yfl

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 18, 2026

When the Suns stopped the Knicks’ run, they finished the quarter on a 13-0 run to end the third, capped off by Devin Booker’s And-one with 0.3 seconds left in the frame. Jordan Goodwin’s effort and quick five-point scoring burst were pivotal.

Goodie always bringing that hustle pic.twitter.com/ClftkXn8ih

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 18, 2026

A slow start to the final quarter, the game started to slow down in its final moment. Collin Gillespie took control of the first half of the fourth, hitting shots and organizing the offense. Phoenix was playing better late than they did against the Pistons and Heat in their previous two games.

Relying mostly on the starters and Grayson Allen, Phoenix pulled away late, avoiding a small scare at the end when New York cut it to five.

---

Up Next​

The Suns will stay in New York City and face the Brooklyn Nets on Monday in the first half of a back-to-back.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...suns-take-control-late-beat-the-knicks-106-99

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Suns JAM Session Podcast: Bench Mob Saves the Suns Trip

The original post-game podcast on Planet Purple!

• Click the SUBSCRIBE button.
• Click the BELL to turn on notifications.

Watch it right here!

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Listen to the latest podcast episode of the Suns JAM Session Podcast below. Stay up to date on every episode, subscribe to the pod on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podbean, Castbox.

Please subscribe, rate, and review.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-jam/96786/suns-jam-session-podcast-suns-knicks

 

[Phoenix Suns]

Injury Update: Questionable at last as Jalen Green nears his return

For the last two months, there has been a song looping in my head whenever Jalen Green comes up. Richard Marx, softly crooning in the background, whispering a promise into the void.

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I have been right here waiting. And I hope my heart don’t break. It feels painfully appropriate at this point, equal parts hope, patience, and checking the injury report daily.

We know we are getting close. Suns head coach Jordan Ott said yesterday that Jalen Green got in another five-on-five run after morning shootaround. “Everything seemed to be good,” Coach Ott stated. “So we’ll see. Still going in the right direction.”

That is the kind of update that makes you sit up a little straighter. Not fireworks. Not a declaration. But enough to tell you the wheels are turning, and the return is no longer theoretical.

So…will Green suit up in Brooklyn on Monday night? Questionable.

Jalen Greeb is QUESTIONABLE to play tomorrow against the Nets.

Green last played on November 8. pic.twitter.com/ESbnP8ju83

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) January 18, 2026

The last time we saw him was on November 8 against the Clippers. He made it 6:48 into that game, but was then gone in the first quarter after re-aggravating the hamstring that already cost him the first 8 games of the season. It felt cruel. It also felt very Suns.

Before that night, Green had played in 192 consecutive games, playoffs included, without missing time. Then he arrives in Phoenix and the basketball gods get weird. To the team’s credit, they have been careful with it. This is a player built on speed. If you are running on a flat tire, you are not helping anyone.

We still do not know the exact severity. A grade two hamstring usually means 3 to 6 weeks. A grade three can stretch into months and even flirt with surgery. This one lingered long enough to make you wonder. Whatever it was, the Suns chose patience, and with a player like Green, that is the only move that makes sense.

But alas, the designation finally changed. That alone feels like progress. It does not guarantee anything, and it does not mean he is ready to roll, but it is a step forward. He is not listed as probable yet, but for the first time in a while, the door is actually open. He could see the floor again.

And the timing matters. Brooklyn is young, energetic, but they are not going to apply the same defensive pressure Phoenix saw from Detroit, Miami, or New York on this trip. That makes this a softer landing spot, if there is such a thing in the NBA.

So here we are. The questionable stage. Actual movement. Real momentum. Now we wait another day to see if Jalen Green finally suits up and plays basketball for Phoenix again.

Source: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/...return-questionable-status-brooklyn-road-trip