The Phoenix Suns are heading into their fourth preseason game with a much lighter lineup than fans saw in their previous meeting with San Antonio.
Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie and Oso Ighodaro did not take part in the full morning shootaround and are not expected to play tonight against the Spurs, according to The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin on X.
Booker and Bridges were also held out of Saturday’s 102-98 win over San Antonio, with Booker resting and Bridges out because of an ankle issue and rest. But this is the first time Phoenix has gone this deep into a preseason game without most of its top group available.
After the victory Saturday, coach Jordan Ott made it clear the plan was to sit the starters in one of the two remaining preseason games.
"One of these two (games we'll give them the night off). It's very fluid.
We have a couple days here in between," Ott said. "Get a good practice in on Monday and then see where we're at on Wednesday."
That sets up Friday’s home preseason finale against the Utah Jazz as the likelier spot for Suns fans to see the starters again.
For tonight, the absences open the door for the rest of the roster to keep making its case. One of the most interesting fights remains the last rotation spot between Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming, with Dunn having the edge through the first three games. Both are still very much on the bubble.
Ighodaro sitting out also points toward a clear front-runner in the center battle. With Mark Williams having suffered a torn labrum in the offseason, it appears Ighodaro has the inside track on the starting job over Khaman Maluach unless something shifts before the Oct. 21 season opener.
That makes Maluach’s matchup with Victor Wembanyama one of the more compelling parts of the night. The Spurs played the Utah Jazz on Monday and were missing nine players, so they could have more of their regulars back for this one. Wembanyama is expected to return tonight.
Maluach started against Wembanyama on Saturday and turned in 10 points and 15 rebounds in 23 minutes, the kind of showing the Suns wanted to see from the young big man.
“I think he played well. He manned the paint, got some boards, caught some hard passes, finished with both hands. He played well and protected our rim really well," Dillon Brooks said of Maluach after the win.
“He guarded Wemby really well. He stayed in front, made him take tough shots, helped contain him from getting rebounds by tipping it out and getting it to us, showing strength and grabbing boards over top.
It’s a process, he’s young and gets to see those different matchups. We play them again, we’ll play them about three times, we got to trust him to guard him and give me a little break.”
Luke Kennard was another bright spot in Saturday’s win, scoring a game-high 20 points, and rookie Koa Peat could also be in line for extra minutes tonight with so many players out.
Even without its starters, Phoenix still has plenty to sort through as it keeps evaluating the bench. Tonight’s game is set to tip off shortly after 5 p.m. MST.
In Other News...
Suns Good Vibes Will Face A Much Bigger Test Soon
The Celtics Joe Mazzulla recently put a sharp point on what every NBA team eventually faces: the season is as much about handling rough patches as it is about celebrating the smooth ones. For the Suns, that message lands at a useful moment. The group has enjoyed good vibes early, and Jordan Otts defense has given the roster a sturdy identity, but the real test usually comes when the schedule tightens, the losses pile up a little, and the room has to stay together.
Phoenix has enough depth to help absorb some of that pressure, with two-way players like Pat Spencer part of the mix, but the bigger question is how the key pieces hold up if the path gets bumpier. Miles Bridges, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams all carry their own importance to the rotation, which is why the Suns ability to stay connected through any roster strain could matter as much as any single game in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Suddenly Have A Miles Bridges Question Before Opening Night
A preseason ankle scare has put a small pause on what has otherwise been a straightforward ramp-up for Miles Bridges. The Suns said Bridges is recovering well after missing the previous game with a rolled ankle, and they will be careful with his workload in the remaining exhibitions as they try to get him to Opening Night in good shape.
Bridges arrives in Phoenix after being acquired from the Hornets this offseason, and he is expected to fill a key power forward role alongside Dillon Brooks. With the Suns already planning to manage their starters closely before the regular season begins, his status is worth watching less for what it says about October and more for how much live action he gets between now and then. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Need Luke Kennard To Survive One Familiar Test
Luke Kennards fit with the Suns is already looking like one of the more interesting subplots of camp, and not just because of his shot. Phoenix has asked him to let it fly more from deep this season, and he gave a small reminder of why in a recent preseason game, when he knocked down four of 10 from beyond the arc. For a team that wants more spacing around its core pieces, that kind of green light matters, especially when the Suns are trying to build a rotation that can survive the grind of a long season.
The bigger question is whether Kennard can hold up on the other end while doing it. Phoenix has put together a defensive lineup meant to help cover for some of the concerns that have followed him in the past, and the Suns are planning to lean on him as a real contributor if injuries force them deeper into the bench. There is also room for him to grow as a secondary playmaker, which would make his minutes even more valuable, but for now this remains a familiar test: can the Suns get enough shooting from Kennard without losing too much anywhere else? [Read more 🡒]