The Phoenix Suns are gearing up to face the Detroit Pistons, and there’s a chance they could be welcoming a key piece back into the lineup. Jalen Green, who’s been sidelined with a right hamstring injury, is officially listed as questionable for the matchup-marking the most encouraging update we’ve seen in a while.
Green’s been limited to just four games this season, and his absence has been frustrating for a Suns team that’s still figuring out exactly how he fits into their rotation. He played only four minutes against Atlanta last week before exiting, and it appeared he may have aggravated the same hamstring that’s kept him out for the bulk of the year. While there’s no set timetable for his return, being upgraded to questionable suggests he’s trending in the right direction.
If he does suit up against Detroit, it’ll be a much-needed boost for a Suns backcourt that’s currently operating without Devin Booker, who’s dealing with an ankle injury. Booker’s status remains unclear, and Phoenix could use some firepower to fill the scoring void in the meantime.
That’s where Green could make an immediate impact. He’s averaging 11.8 points in limited action this season, but we’re talking about a player who put up 21 points per game last year on a team that finished with the No. 2 seed. His scoring ability is real, and if he’s healthy, he can give this Suns offense another gear-especially in a system that thrives on pace and spacing.
Green arrived in Phoenix as part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant trade with Houston, and there were questions about how he’d fit into an already crowded backcourt. So far, injuries have delayed that answer.
But the potential is there. He’s got the athleticism, the shot-making, and the upside to carve out a meaningful role-particularly if he can stay on the floor consistently.
Despite the injury setbacks, the Suns have held their own. At 28-19, they’re sitting in the seventh seed and have quietly become one of the league’s more surprising stories. They’ve weathered lineup changes and injury absences, and they’re still very much in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.
Getting Green back won’t just be about adding another scorer-it’s about finally seeing what this revamped roster looks like with all its pieces in place. If he’s ready to go, the Suns may be getting a timely reinforcement as they look to build momentum in the second half of the season.