The Phoenix Suns knew they needed to make major changes to their identity to emerge from the doldrums. After stocking up on superstars with Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, they shifted focus this season to building around Devin Booker as the lone superstar.
In the first season under that approach, the returns have been overwhelmingly positive, as the team still remains in the hunt for a playoff spot and is virtually guaranteed a play-in spot. As a result, any late-season surge is going to make every game important, but their injury report against the Denver Nuggets paints a ghastly picture.
How Injuries Could Impact the Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets Matchup
All season long, the focus for the Suns has been to surround Booker with the right pieces. With capable shooters and tough defenders who can be counted on for the occasional playmaking boost, the foundation is a solid one.
And for the most part, the execution has been pretty strong, as the team sits comfortably as the seventh seed in a vaunted Western Conference. But before a five-game losing streak, the team had legitimate aspirations of sneaking into the sixth spot.
Unfortunately, those dreams are now all the tougher. And the injury report against the Nuggets isn’t going to do them any favors. Because Denver is another team firmly in the logjam in the West standings, the game is critical for both sides.
But the Suns are missing a whole cast of players, making it an extremely uphill battle for them even before tipoff. Mark Williams, who went down with a stress reaction in his left foot on March 3, is still a few days away from his reevaluation.
MORE: Devin Booker Admits Suns’ 5-Game Skid Puts Phoenix in ‘Tough Position’ to Avoid Play-In
Until that time, he is undeniably going to be out of the rotation for head coach Jordan Ott. Unfortunately, he isn’t the only name they’re missing in the lineup against Denver. Their forward trio of Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale, and Haywood Highsmith is dealing with various ailments.
Both Highsmith and O’Neale are dealing with knee injuries, with the former already declared out for the game and the latter still listed as probable. Brooks, on the other hand, has a hand injury that will keep him out of the game against the Nuggets.
In the backcourt, too, the team is far from whole. Their most consistent shooter, especially from 3-point range, Grayson Allen, is also dealing with a knee injury that has him questionable to suit up on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Amir Coffey has already been ruled out of the game with an ankle injury. With four players out for the game and another two hanging in the balance, the road to a victory for the Suns is an extremely arduous one.
It remains to be seen whether their best player can will them to a win, but it won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination.