The Phoenix Suns are set to bring back their starters for Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Utah Jazz after sitting them Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs.
Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges and Collin Gillespie are all back in the mix for the matchup with Utah. That gives Phoenix a familiar-looking lineup after a night off for its top group.
Not everyone is available, though. Suns coach Jordan Ott said pregame that Luke Kennard and Oso Ighodaro will be out, along with Mark Williams. Kennard is dealing with a knee tendon strain after getting hurt in Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs, Ighodaro is sidelined with hip soreness and Williams remains out after suffering a torn labrum in the offseason.
Ott said he expects both Kennard and Ighodaro to be ready for next Wednesday’s season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers.
"I hate to make a statement now because we have so many days in between. Definitely Oso, for sure.
You saw Luke come out of the game the other night, but we avoided anything serious. He'll get back on the court this weekend."
The Suns will also continue sorting through the center spot, where Ighodaro is in a battle with Khaman Maluach for the starting role.
With the regulars returning and Ott expecting longer run for his main group, Phoenix should use this one more like a dress rehearsal. He said the plan is for the starters to get into the third quarter.
"Tonight will be another good test with our guys playing a little bit longer. We assume we'll get into the third quarter. That's the plan tonight with our minutes," Ott said of his starters.
Utah should provide a different kind of challenge. Ott pointed to the Jazz as one of the biggest teams in the league, and that kind of size is exactly what Phoenix wanted to see in the preseason after having trouble with bigger opponents last season.
"These guys we assume will start big. They run a lot of off-ball stuff, so that'll be a good test.
They're one of the few teams to play this style," Ott said. "It's different than our last two games against the Spurs.
That's kind of getting us into the season rhythm of every night is a new challenge. The league is so competitive.
Some teams are more offensive focused. Some teams are more bigger than others.
"The other night (the Spurs) started three smaller guards, so we're kind of getting into that rhythm. Definitely scouting, prepared enough for this one to kind of get into our own routine ...
We just want to play well. At the end of the day, it's about us.
This preseason is about us. We want to continue to build habits, build on where our identity was last year and how we want to play.
And we've done that. We've done it in the preseason."
In Other News...
Suns Rotation Question Gets Tougher With New Shooter Suddenly Sidelined
Luke Kennards arrival was supposed to give the Suns a cleaner answer on the perimeter, with the veteran guard bringing another proven three-point option into a group that needs spacing. Instead, a knee injury he suffered in a preseason game against the Spurs has already interrupted that plan, and he will sit out Phoenixs preseason finale against the Jazz. The Suns still view it as a short-term issue, which is at least a relief for a team trying to sort out roles before the games start counting.
Even so, the timing adds another layer to a rotation battle that was already worth watching. Kennard was brought in to be a meaningful part of the offense, not just a depth piece, and any missed time slows the chance to get him comfortable in his new setting. For a Suns team trying to sharpen its shooting and identify reliable lineup combinations, losing a new weapon even briefly makes the final tune-up a little less straightforward. [Read more 🡒]
Suns May Be Closing In On A Crucial Oso Ighodaro Decision
Oso Ighodaros rise has put the Suns in a familiar offseason spot: trying to lock in a young big man before his price climbs. He is expected to open the 2026-27 season as Phoenixs starting center, and even with one year left on his rookie deal, he is already eligible for an extension. Ighodaro has said publicly that talks have happened, which is usually the kind of signal teams like to hear when they believe a player is still on the upswing.
The Suns clearly see him that way, viewing Ighodaro as a valuable piece who is trending upward and worth securing on something that works for the team long term. The timing matters too, because a decision could come in the next few days, leaving Phoenix with a chance to settle an important frontcourt question before it becomes a louder one. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Dunn Is Forcing A Tough Suns Rotation Decision
Ryan Dunn has done more than just hold his own in the Suns preseason, he has made it hard for the coaching staff to ignore him. He has been getting real minutes, even drawing a start in a recent game, and the appeal is obvious: energy, activity and enough touch to finish with 15 points without missing a shot from the floor.
The problem for Phoenix is that the rotation is no longer wide open. With the roster deeper and more bodies coming back from injury, Dunn is competing for the same floor time as several other options, which makes his path less about a guaranteed starting spot and more about carving out a specific job. For now, the most realistic version of that role may be as a defensive specialist in shorter bursts, even if his preseason play has suggested he can handle more. [Read more 🡒]