Phoenix Suns Weekly Breakdown: A Tough Stretch, a Key Return, and a Big Stage Ahead
November was mostly kind to the Phoenix Suns, but the final week brought a dose of reality. The Suns went 1-3 over that stretch, and while the losses came against some of the Western Conference’s top-tier teams, the performances raised questions about where this squad stands when the competition tightens and the pressure mounts.
Let’s break down the week that was - and the week that’s coming - for a Suns team still trying to find its ceiling.
How Did the Suns Stack Up Against the West’s Elite?
The Suns faced a gauntlet this past week: the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. All three are playoff-caliber teams, and all three presented different challenges. Phoenix didn’t come away with many wins, but there were still signs worth watching.
Let’s start with the context. The Suns were shorthanded in all three matchups.
Mark Williams missed the games against Houston and Denver, and Ryan Dunn was out for the entire week. Grayson Allen returned for the Denver game after a seven-game absence, but he looked like a player still finding his legs - especially from deep.
But it wasn’t just Phoenix missing pieces. Houston played without Kevin Durant, and Denver was also on the second night of a back-to-back. So while it's fair to mention the Suns’ injuries, the playing field wasn’t entirely tilted.
In the games against the Rockets and Nuggets, Phoenix kept things tight early in the fourth quarter. But that’s where the wheels started to come off.
Both opponents pulled away late, and the Suns didn’t have the firepower - or the stops - to respond. That’s been a theme in some of their tougher games this season: competitive for three quarters, but fading when it matters most.
The most encouraging effort came against the Thunder. After trailing by as many as 15 in the fourth, the Suns made a serious push.
They forced Oklahoma City to stay locked in until the final buzzer - something not many teams have done this year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had to take over late, which says a lot about how hard Phoenix made them work.
So, what do we make of it?
This wasn’t a disaster week, but it wasn’t a statement week either. The Suns showed they can hang with the West’s best - for stretches.
But hanging around isn’t the same as closing out. That’s the next step.
Grayson Allen’s Return: What It Means for the Offense
Grayson Allen is back, and that’s both a relief and a reset. The sharpshooter missed seven games with a quad contusion, and while his return against Denver was a welcome sight, the rust was obvious. His rhythm wasn’t there, and his perimeter shot - usually a weapon - just wasn’t falling.
Before the injury, Allen was one of the Suns’ most consistent floor spacers. His presence opened up driving lanes for Devin Booker and gave the offense a much-needed balance.
Without him, Phoenix had to lean more heavily on Booker and Royce O’Neale - and both have seen their efficiency dip. Booker, in particular, hasn’t shot over 50% from the field since Allen went down.
Now that Allen is back, the question is how quickly the offense can recalibrate. The projected starting lineup, at least while Jalen Green remains out, looks like this: Allen, Williams, Booker, Dillon Brooks, and O’Neale.
That group has the potential to space the floor well, defend across multiple positions, and play with pace. But it’s going to take time to get the chemistry right again.
Allen’s return should help Booker get better looks and take some pressure off O’Neale, who’s been asked to do a bit more than expected offensively. If Allen can get back to his pre-injury form quickly, the Suns’ offense could find another gear - and they’ll need it heading into a high-stakes stretch.
The NBA Cup: A Chance to Make a Statement
Phoenix has officially punched its ticket to the NBA Cup Quarterfinals. They’ll head to Oklahoma City on December 10 to face the Thunder - yes, the same Thunder team they just battled to the wire.
The Suns went 3-1 in group play and were the only Western Conference team to reach the Quarterfinals without winning their group. That’s a testament to their competitiveness, but also a reminder that the margin for error is razor-thin in this format.
If they get past OKC, they’ll face the winner of Lakers vs. Spurs - two teams playing some of their best basketball right now. That’s a tough road, no matter how you slice it.
But here’s the upside: the NBA Cup is a national stage. It’s a chance for the Suns to show that they’re more than just a solid regular-season team. It’s an opportunity to prove they can rise to the moment, execute under pressure, and beat elite opponents when the lights are brightest.
There’s no championship banner for winning the NBA Cup, but there’s pride, momentum, and national respect on the line. And for a Suns team still building its identity, that matters.
Final Thoughts
This past week wasn’t Phoenix’s best, but it wasn’t without value. They got a key player back, pushed a top team to the brink, and now have a shot to make noise in the NBA Cup.
The pieces are there. The question is whether they can come together in time to make a real run - not just in December, but when it really counts come spring.
The next few games will tell us a lot.