The Phoenix Suns dropped a tough one on Sunday, falling 111-102 to the Miami Heat in a game that underscored just how much they miss Devin Booker and Jalen Green. Without their backcourt duo, Phoenix struggled to establish any real rhythm offensively, and while Grayson Allen stepped up in terms of effort, it was a rough night all around-both in the box score and physically.
Allen, who’s been a steady presence for the Suns this season, found himself at the center of a scary moment in the second half. While chasing a loose ball, Miami’s Kasparas Jakucionis collided hard into Allen’s leg, a play that immediately sparked concern across the arena and on the broadcast. The slow-motion replays didn’t do much to ease the tension-it was the kind of contact that makes you hold your breath.
Former NBA player and longtime Suns voice Eddie Johnson didn’t hold back his frustration. “You know how I feel about that.
I don’t even want your ‘I’m sorry.’ That’s a dangerous play.
I’d slap him. They didn’t teach you that at Illinois,” Johnson said during the broadcast, clearly rattled by the recklessness of the dive.
And to his point, it’s one thing to hustle, but there’s a line between aggressive and reckless-and this one flirted with crossing it.
To his credit, Allen popped back up, albeit limping, and stayed in the game. Not only that, he calmly knocked down both free throws that followed the collision. It’s the kind of toughness Suns fans have come to expect from him, especially considering he’s still recovering from a recent shot to the face courtesy of OG Anunoby in a previous game.
Statistically, Allen’s night was a mixed bag. He finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists-solid counting numbers-but his shooting woes were hard to ignore.
He went just 4-for-18 from the field and 1-for-11 from beyond the arc. For a team already missing two key scorers, that kind of inefficiency was tough to overcome.
After the game, Allen spoke candidly about the Suns’ need to adapt their half-court offense without Booker and Green. “We have to keep the pace up within the half court for the whole time that we’re out there,” Allen said.
“Don’t make it so easy for teams to just switch and sit with a crowd and force us into some one-on-one stuff. We’ve done it, we’ve done a great job of it throughout the year.
It’s just different without Book out there, that you have to play that way for 48 minutes.”
He’s not wrong. Booker’s absence changes everything.
His ability to break down defenses, create off the dribble, and force rotations opens up the floor for everyone else. Without him, Phoenix has to manufacture offense in more deliberate ways-and that’s easier said than done over four quarters against a disciplined defense like Miami’s.
The good news? Booker is expected to miss just about a week, and Green’s injury isn’t considered serious. There’s a chance he could return soon, which would be a welcome boost for a Suns team trying to hold steady in a crowded Western Conference race.
Next up, the Suns head to Brooklyn for a Thursday matchup with the Nets. With or without their full roster, they’ll need sharper execution and more efficient shooting if they want to get back in the win column.