PHOENIX -- The Suns head into Saturday night’s matchup with Houston carrying a mixed injury picture, and the frontcourt situation could matter just as much as the scoreboard.
Jordan Goodwin is listed as doubtful with right calf injury management after missing the last two games, while Rasheer Fleming is questionable because of a left ankle sprain. Mark Williams remains out as he continues to recover from left shoulder surgery.
Goodwin’s absence would be another hit to Phoenix’s bench, especially after he hurt his calf in the first half of Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Fleming, who has not been part of the rotation this season, picked up his ankle injury in practice on Tuesday.
Houston, meanwhile, comes in with its own center issues. Clint Capela is out with a right ankle sprain and has now missed the last two games, while Steven Adams remains sidelined with a right soleus strain and has not played since the season opener.
That matters for a Suns team that has had trouble against opposing centers this season. Even so, the Rockets still have Alperen Sengun anchoring the middle, so Phoenix won’t get a free pass inside.
Saturday’s game is the third of a seven-game homestand for the Suns, who finally snapped a four-game skid Thursday with a 117-104 win over the Orlando Magic.
“Our whole thing is putting a full game together. I think we had a great start, I feel like we’ve lost every way possible so far from being blown out to giving up an early lead to some late-game problems,” Suns star Devin Booker said after the win.
“Tonight was the closest I’d say, we put a full 48 minutes together. Something to build on, something to learn from and there’s obviously a lot of season left so keeping the morale high, keeping the belief high and continuing to get better.”
Houston arrives with plenty of momentum, too. The Rockets are 7-2 and own the NBA’s best net rating at +15.5. They’ve also taken the last eight meetings between the teams, making this a tough test for Phoenix even with the game at home.
The matchup has carried extra edge since last year’s trade that sent Kevin Durant to Houston and Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns. That tension has only grown after Durant’s back-and-forth with Suns owner Mat Ishbia last month, a moment that also drew Brooks into the conversation. Houston also holds Phoenix’s 2027 first-round pick.
For the Suns, the assignment is simple enough: keep the emotion in check and build on the defensive effort that helped them force 25 turnovers against Orlando. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.
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