Suns Notes: Green, Booker, Williams, Allen, Fleming, Brooks
Injuries prevented Jalen Green from contributing to the Suns for most of the season, but he made up for it with 36 points and eight three-pointers in Friday’s play-in victory over Golden State, writes Doug Haller of The Athletic. It was a satisfying performance for Green, who was limited to 32 regular season games, mostly due to a hamstring injury he suffered during training camp that led to a long and frustrating healing process.
“Getting injured in the first place, coming back,” he recalled. “Getting injured again, coming back. I think it happened like three or four times. It was hard.”
Green admitted that he enjoyed eliminating the Warriors, who defeated his Houston team in seven games last year in his first playoff appearance. Even so, he was grateful for a post-game chat with Stephen Curry, whom he credits for helping to develop his game, relays Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area.
“He was just telling me to handle business in OKC,” Green said. “Coming from Steph, it means a lot to chop it up with him and just hear from him at the end of the day, just because I was maybe 16 years old when he was having me come out to Oakland just to work out with him. So he’s kind of been somewhat of a mentor. I was able to get his number and reach out throughout these years. So he’s been kind of something like a mentor. And playing against him is always great. He’s one of the greatest shooters — greatest players of all time.”
There’s more from Phoenix:
- Devin Booker and Draymond Green both got tossed from Friday’s game after a prolonged shouting match late in the fourth quarter, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Booker downplayed the heated exchange in a post-game session with the media. “It’s nothing man,” he said. “I’ve been there before and I understand the situation. My big brother used to beat me in NBA Live back in the day and I’d throw a fit. He’s a competitor. He loves the sport.”
- Mark Williams (left foot soreness) and Grayson Allen (left hamstring) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s series opener at Oklahoma City, Rankin states in a separate story. Both players sat out Friday’s game, although Williams played 22 minutes in Tuesday’s play-in contest against Portland. Allen, who was injured on April 10, was on the active roster on Friday but wasn’t used.
- Rasheer Fleming looks like part of the Suns’ future after a promising rookie season, Rankin adds in another piece. Phoenix traded up to the top of the second round in last year’s draft to get Fleming, who made his first career start in the season finale and posted 16 points. “It’s been a great experience, honestly, on both ends,” he said. “For me to be able to watch and to be able to be on the floor throughout the season, it’s been great.”
- The Suns’ playoff appearance will result in a $1MM bonus for Dillon Brooks, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). The bonus had been classified as unlikely because Phoenix didn’t qualify for the postseason last year.
Magic, Suns Advance; NBA’s Playoff Field Set
After losing their first play-in games earlier in the week, the Magic and Suns bounced back in impressive fashion on Friday, winning home games against the Hornets and Warriors, respectively, to clinch their spots in the playoffs. Orlando and Phoenix will enter the first round as No. 8 seeds, with the Magic taking on Detroit in round one and the Suns facing Oklahoma City.
The Magic ran out to a 22-point lead by the end of the first quarter in Friday’s early game and expanded that cushion to 31 points by the end of the second quarter. Their defense set the tone early by allowing the Hornets to make just 5-of-20 (25.0%) shots from the floor in the first period and 13-of-41 (31.7%) in the first half. Orlando maintained that significant lead in the second half, winning by a score of 121-90.
“When you play with a sense of desperation and urgency, when you know you’re either going home or extending your season, that’s what it looks like,” head coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “There (are) no second chances.”
Paolo Banchero contributed 25 points and a team-high six assists to lead a balanced offensive attack that saw all five of the Magic’s starters score in double-digits. Franz Wagner added 18 points and matched Banchero’s six assists, while Desmond Bane was a team-best plus-30 in his 35 minutes of action despite scoring just 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
In the late game, the Suns emulated the Magic by building a big lead in the first quarter, though Phoenix gave most of that 18-point edge in the second quarter before putting the win away in the second half by a score of 111-96.
Suns guard Jalen Green, who struggled in his first taste of playoff action with Houston a year ago, was excellent in this week’s play-in games, scoring 35 points in Tuesday’s loss and then pouring in 36 more in Friday’s win over Golden State. Green made 14-of-20 shots, including 8-of-14 from beyond the arc, and also contributed six rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals. His eight three-pointers matched a career high.
The Suns also did an admirable job holding Warriors star Stephen Curry in check after he went off for 35 points in Wednesday’s win over the Clippers. Curry made just 4-of-16 shots from the field in Phoenix and had as many turnovers as assists (four apiece).
The Suns and Thunder will tip off their series in Oklahoma City at 3:30 pm Eastern time on Sunday, with Game 1 of the Magic/Pistons matchup to follow in Detroit at 6:30 pm.
While Phoenix and Orlando will enter the series as massive underdogs, their regular season results against their first-round opponents offer a sliver of hope — the Suns went 2-3 against the Thunder, while the Magic went 2-2 vs. the Pistons.
Injury Notes: Curry, Brown, J. Green, Goodwin, Powell, Hall
The Warriors have ruled out star guard Stephen Curry for Thursday’s game against the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
Curry returned earlier this week from a knee injury after sitting out for over two months, so Golden State is taking a cautious approach with its leading scorer and most valuable player. Slater had reported on Wednesday that the 38-year-old would likely be held out of one end of the team’s back-to-back set on Thursday and Friday. The fact that Curry is missing Thursday’s game means he should be back in action on Friday vs. Sacramento.
It also means that Curry and Lakers star LeBron James won’t face each other at all this season. James missed the first meeting between the two teams in the fall while dealing with sciatica and Curry missed the next two as a result of his knee injury.
We have more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Celtics can clinch the No. 2 seed in the East with one more win, but they won’t be at full strength as they look to pick up that victory in New York on Thursday. Star wing Jaylen Brown will miss the game due to left Achilles tendinitis, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s the first game of a back-to-back set for Boston, though it remains to be seen whether Brown will be back in action on Friday vs. New Orleans.
- Jalen Green suffered a right leg injury early in the first quarter of Wednesday’s win over Dallas and did not return, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The former No. 2 overall pick wore a sleeve at halftime and warmed up to see how he was feeling prior to being ruled out. Fellow Suns guard Jordan Goodwin also exited Wednesday’s game due to a left ankle injury, which he suffered in the second quarter, Rankin adds.
- Although Heat wing Norman Powell said after shootaround on Thursday morning that he’s “feeling good” and will be active for tonight’s game in Toronto, he admitted his nagging right groin injury will likely linger until he gets an extended break for it to heal in the offseason, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. “When you have muscle strains and things like that, you can rehab and everything. But it takes time,” Powell said. “You just need rest, and I just feel like I need rest. I need time to let the body do what it needs to do. But even though I can get it to a certain point where it feels good, there’s no pain and everything, it doesn’t mean that it’s 100% healed. So then over time, an accumulated amount of stress on that area, then it starts to flare back up.”
- Second-year big man PJ Hall underwent surgery to address his right ankle fracture, the Hornets announced in a press release. The former Clemson star, who suffered the injury in the first round of the G League playoffs with the Greensboro Swarm, will miss the rest of the 2025/26 season.
Rory Maher contributed to this story.
Suns Notes: Booker, Goodwin, Green, Williams, Brooks
Suns star Devin Booker was able to do 5-on-5 work in Sunday’s practice, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The 29-year-old shooting guard has missed Phoenix’s last four games due to a right hip strain.
“He knows his body better than anyone,” head coach Jordan Ott said. “He’s been through these processes. Incredible recovery. So, he knows how he’s supposed to feel. How he’s supposed to feel when he plays.”
Ott also provided an injury update on Jordan Goodwin, Rankin adds. The backup guard is dealing with a left calf strain and is expected to be reevaluated within the next week.
“He’s just now ramping up,” Ott said. “He is on the court. He was on the court today. Book is further along than Goodie, but he is starting to progress onto the court.”
Here’s more from Phoenix:
- Jalen Green has been in a major shooting slump over his last four games, Rankin writes, averaging 12.8 points while shooting just 21-of-75 (28.0%) from the field over that span. Ott cited Green’s conditioning as one factor in his struggles — he missed most of the season after repeatedly straining his right hamstring. “He knows he’s a little out of rhythm, but it’s good just to get him out there,” Ott said. “It’s like the consistent number of games I think is good. I think the four-day break for him too, just his body. Now he’s played in those games, five games after the All-Star break. He’s a little sore from it and that’s normal. Just going through all the normal basketball things that you take for granted when you start the season. Now he’s doing it 50 games in.”
- Starting center Mark Williams, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, has also been in a rut of late, Rankin notes. Williams is averaging 6.3 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 39.5% from the floor over his past six contests (18.8 minutes per game), well below his season-long rates (11.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 63.5% from the field). The Suns think Booker will help both Green and Williams when he returns. “Book helps make all of our lives better,” Ott said. “Not just those two.”
- Jason Quick of The Athletic takes an in-depth look at how Booker and Dillon Brooks became friends over the offseason after the latter was traded from Houston to Phoenix in the Kevin Durant deal. “It doesn’t catch me off-guard anymore, where you know, you see somebody on the court and they act as a totally different person … so him being a naggy person, the annoying person to play against, then you meet him, and he’s soft-spoken and humble,” Booker said. “And to me, those are the types of guys who want to go to war with, the guys who can turn it on.”
Pacific Notes: Santos, Green, Ayton, Kings
Power forward Gui Santos has seen his role expand with the Warriors in recent weeks and it’s given a major confidence boost to the 2022 second-round pick, he said on 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs show.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m feeling really good right now about the shooting, you know the confidence,” Santos said (story via Kevin Borba of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think especially when you know that you’re going to play every night when you know that like your team trusts you, the staff trust you, that gives you way more confidence to go out there. You take shots with confidence, you take shots that you think like, ‘yes this shot is one shot that I got shoot it and I’m going to make it.’ And I feel good right now I’m in this position.”
In the month of February, Santos is averaging 29.7 minutes, 15.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. He’ll be eligible for restricted free agency after the season.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- As with his past teams, Deandre Ayton is frustrating the Lakers with his inconsistent play. Ayton has a minimal offensive role but the team is trying to unlock his potential as a rebounder and defender. Coach JJ Redick also sees plays where the ball should go inside to Ayton. “There’s positive trends,” Redick said after practice Monday, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. “We did watch some film today. There was some real positive trends defensively. I think his spirit and engagement and stuff has been really good. I think for all the guys, if he has a smaller player on him, that’s an advantage for us. Let’s just get him the ball. I think it’s just thematically across the team, we have to pass it to each other more and trust each other more. … In terms of him running and putting pressure on the rim and offensive rebounding, particularly against switches and smaller players, he could be better there.” Ayton is averaging career lows in points (13.0), rebounds (8.4) and minutes (28.1) per game.
- Jalen Green has missed a good portion of his first season with the Suns due to hamstring injuries. He’s now in a position to make a major impact with both Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks out due to injuries. “I think I bring a little bit of everything,” Green told Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports. “Play faster, get some steals and get into the open lane. I think that’s where my biggest impact is, getting to the rim, the three and scoring.” Green is averaging 16.8 points over his last four games.
- The Kings‘ franchise-record losing streak of 16 games was finally snapped on Monday, as Russell Westbrook scored 25 points in a 123-114 road victory over Memphis. Precious Achiuwa matched his season-high with 20 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds. “We needed this,” Achiuwa told NBC Sports California, as Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee relays. “It’s been a bit of a rough path for us the past couple games. We’ve played really well a lot of those games. We were just unfortunate not to come out with a win, but tonight we’re glad. It feels good to win.”
Suns Notes: Highsmith, Green, Booker, Brooks, Anthony
Although Haywood Highsmith‘s agent said earlier this month that his client was fully recovered from an offseason knee surgery and appeared on the verge of making his season debut, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears that the Suns‘ newest swingman is still a few weeks away from playing in an NBA game.
Phoenix isn’t necessarily expecting a lot from Highsmith this season, according to Gambadoro, who suggests the team is taking a longer-term view on the 29-year-old after he signed a two-year contract that isn’t fully guaranteed in 2026/27.
As Gambadoro and his radio co-host Dave Burns said earlier this week (Twitter video link), the Suns may also consider Highsmith something of an insurance policy in the event that the team trades a wing like Royce O’Neale or Grayson Allen during the offseason. In that scenario, Phoenix would have an established veteran like Highsmith who could step into a larger role next season on a team-friendly deal.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Health issues, including a nagging hamstring injury, limited Jalen Green to seven games in his first season a Sun, but he’s not on the team’s injury report as the second half begins, notes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “He’s in a good spot right now,” general manager Brian Gregory said of Green. “You know, injuries, unfortunately, are part of this league, and he’s done an unbelievable job. His spirit on a daily basis in terms of attacking the rehab, attacking the recovery, attacking the workouts has been spot on from day one.”
- Due to Green’s inconsistent availability, the Suns haven’t been able to take an extended look at the backcourt duo of Green and Devin Booker this season, but Gregory says he’s confident that the pairing can work long-term, as Rankin relays (via Twitter). “(Green’s) explosiveness, his ability to get to the basket, his feel for the game, I think those two guys together are going to form one of the best backcourts – if not the best – in the NBA as we move forward,” Gregory said. “Especially down the road as they get to play more and get a better feel for each other. But (Green) brings a lot of stuff that at times that we’re lacking. So I think his fit is going to be really, really good.”
- Dillon Brooks will sit out the Suns’ game in San Antonio on Thursday after being hit with an automatic one-game suspension for accumulating 16 technical fouls this season. Brooks would continue to receive one-game suspensions for every two techs he receives the rest of the way, but Gregory is optimistic that won’t happen. “He knows his technical situation,” the Suns’ GM said, per Rankin. “We’ve had plenty of sit-downs and talks. He also knows how important he is for us to be on the court. So, I think with that, I think he understands exactly where he’s at.”
- Veteran guard Cole Anthony, a trade deadline acquisition in a financially motivated deal, is still on the Suns’ roster, but he’s listed as “not with team” and there’s still an expectation that he’ll be waived sooner or later, says Rankin.
Suns Notes: Highsmith, Ishbia, Brooks, 2027 All-Star Game
The Suns have long been fans of Haywood Highsmith, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, who hears from sources that the team has been eyeing the veteran forward for two years. Highsmith plans to sign a multiyear deal with Phoenix.
Rankin writes that the Suns view Highsmith as a strong fit due his “competitiveness and toughness.” Although Phoenix has a standard roster opening the team can use to sign Highsmith, the Suns are also expected to waive guard Cole Anthony, Rankin confirms.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- The Suns have already exceeded external expectations this season — they were only projected to win 31.5 games, and they’re currently 32-23, the No. 7 seed in the West and just three games out of the No. 3 spot. As Sam Amick of The Athletic writes, Mat Ishbia was widely criticized around the league for leaning into his Michigan State ties in his first couple years as owner, but instead of going away from those connections, he doubled down and went all the way in last offseason. Ishbia promoted Brian Gregory, his former assistant coach with the Spartans, to be the Suns’ new general manager, and worked with Gregory and CEO Josh Bartelstein to establish the team’s hardworking culture. “When people wanted to blame me last time, I wasn’t actually doing it my way,” Ishbia told The Athletic. “Now, I am, and there’s no question about it.”
- According to Amick, while James Jones was technically still Phoenix’s head of basketball operations last February, it was actually Bartelstein who spearheaded communications with rival teams interested in trading for Kevin Durant. League sources tell Amick the Rockets made a late pitch for Durant prior to last year’s deadline, offering a package that included Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., but the Suns wanted Dillon Brooks in the deal and decided to wait until the summer to revisit trade talks. A Rockets source denies Smith was ever included in the offer, Amick adds.
- As impressive as Phoenix’s turnaround has been this season, the team still finds itself at an asset deficit after trading away so many draft picks and swaps to acquire Durant and Bradley Beal in the first place, Amick notes. The Suns will also carry Beal’s dead-money cap hit on their books for several more seasons, limiting their financial flexibility going forward.
- Speaking to the media on Saturday, All-Star guard Devin Booker says he has enjoyed playing with Brooks this season, as Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays (Twitter video link). “Dillon is a hardworking man. He’s someone to rally behind. He’s a fierce competitor. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’d rather too competitive than to be the other way. It’s been a pleasure playing with him,” Booker said.
- Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the 2027 All-Star game, which Phoenix will host, at his Saturday press conference, per Rankin (Twitter video link).
Pacific Notes: D. Green, DeRozan, Bufkin, J. Green
Warriors forward Draymond Green told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports.com that he thinks he still has two to four years left in the tank after this season.
“I feel great. I feel like I can go another two to four years. I think for me, I always want to try to compete at an elite level,” he said. “If I can’t do that, then it’s not as fun. But what I will say is that I have more left than I thought I would at this point. So as the years have gone by, the outlook on when I’ll be done has changed. I thought I’d get to year 12 and that I’d be breaking down. But by the time I got to year 12, I felt like I was still getting better.”
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. claimed that he wasn’t discussing Green in any trade talks prior to last week’s deadline, contrary to previous reports. Green has a $27.7MM option on the final year of his contract — he’ll need to make a decision by June 29.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Kings forward DeMar DeRozan slammed a water bottle to the floor during a third-quarter timeout during a 13th consecutive loss on Monday, as Sacramento was blown out at home by New Orleans. Head coach Doug Christie understood DeRozan’s display of frustration, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “Totally,” Christie said. “I went down and sat with him for a second just to talk to him. His frustration is more about, first of all, ending a skid, and also after being so close that it could go either way in so many games, this is the first time in a minute where we had this kind of result where we weren’t really in a game. That frustration paired with always trying to play the right way, making sure we’re moving the basketball, getting into something … that was more his frustration than anything, but he’s good. Deebo is a consummate professional.”
- Kobe Bufkin earned a standard contract from the Lakers with his play for their G League team, the South Bay Lakers. The former Hawks guard is excited for the opportunity. “It means a lot,” he said, per Benjamin Royer of the South County Register. “Even dating back to draft night, I had conversations with the Lakers. Ended up going to the Hawks, ultimately, but they’ve always shown interest, always showed love – (GM Rob Pelinka) specifically.” Bufkin was signed to a two-year deal that includes a team option for 2026/27.
- Jalen Green played just his sixth game of the season on Saturday, contributing eight points in 17 minutes in the Suns’ loss to Philadelphia. Green, whose first year with the club has been marred by persistent hamstring issues, is still trying to gain trust in his body, he admitted to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “There’s still some trust factor in trusting everything, but that’s going to come with time,” Green said. “Playing and being unconscious and forgetting about injuries.”
Suns Notes: Anthony, Coffey, Booker, Green, Allen, Livers
The Suns acquired Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey from Milwaukee in a three-team trade on Thursday, but Anthony hasn’t reported yet and may decide not to. He is listed as “not with team” for tonight’s meeting with Philadelphia, and coach Jordan Ott addressed the situation during his pregame session with the media, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link).
“I think they’re still determining that. Working through that as we speak,” Ott said.
Anthony has a $2.3MM expiring contract and can’t join another team unless Phoenix releases him or negotiates a buyout. The trade with the Bucks was a cost-cutting move and the Suns have a lot of guards on their roster, so it’s possible they’ll be open to either option.
Anthony, 25, was sent from Orlando to Memphis last summer as part of the Desmond Bane trade, then signed with the Bucks after being waived. He appeared in 35 games with Milwaukee, averaging 6.7 PPG while shooting 42.4% from the field and a career-worst 30.6% from three-point range.
Coffey, meanwhile, welcomes his new opportunity in Phoenix, Rankin tweets.
“I’m excited. I’m excited,” he said. “I know it’s always weird around the deadline trying to wait to see what’s going to happen, but definitely blessed to be in this position.”
There’s more on the Suns:
- Ott said it was tough to part with Nick Richards and Nigel Hayes-Davis, who were sent out in the deal, Rankin writes in a full story. The Suns’ head coach credited both players for helping the team surpass expectations. “They’re such great teammates,” he said. “They were part of the good vibes that we have going. Incredible workers, even when they were out of the rotation, they were super helpful for our group. Playing in the ‘stay ready’ runs.”
- Devin Booker and Jalen Green will both be active tonight, although they’ll be on minutes restrictions, Rankin states in another piece. Booker has missed the last seven games with a right ankle sprain, while Green has only been available five times all season, mostly due to an injured right hamstring. He was sidelined for the past three games after a hard fall that affected his back and hip.
- Grayson Allen, who has a right knee sprain, and two-way player Isaiah Livers, who’s dealing with a sprained left shoulder, will both be reevaluated after the All-Star break, Rankin adds.
Suns’ Jalen Green Expected To Return Friday
Fifth-year guard Jalen Green, who has missed the Suns‘ last three games after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring last week, is set to return for Friday’s contest in Cleveland, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Green has been limited to just four appearances this season after repeatedly aggravating a right hamstring strain he initially suffered in training camp. He isn’t listed on the injury report for tonight’s game, Rankin writes.
A former No. 2 overall pick, Green underwent an MRI over the weekend, which didn’t reveal a new injury. He missed the first eight games of the season due to the right hamstring strain, then was sidelined for 33 consecutive contests after re-injuring it on November 8.
Green just returned to action on Jan. 20 following that lengthy absence. He experienced the tightness in his second game back.
The 23-year-old averaged 20.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists on .422/.343/.799 shooting in 307 games across his first four seasons, all of which were spent with Houston (32.7 minutes per contest). Green, who was sent to Phoenix last summer as part of the Kevin Durant blockbuster, has averaged 11.8 PPG, 1.8 RPG and 2.0 APG on .432/.421/.778 shooting in just 13.5 MPG this season.