Luke Kennard will miss the Phoenix Suns’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight after being ruled out with a knee issue, coach Jordan Ott said.
Kennard had been listed as questionable because of Left Knee Tendinopathy. He was already held out of the preseason finale on Saturday after hurting his knee in last week’s preseason game against the Chicago Bulls. Drew Timme, on a two-way deal, and Mark Williams, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, were also previously ruled out on Phoenix’s initial injury report.
That leaves the Suns leaning more heavily on their bench group, with Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and Jamaree Bouyea expected to pick up more of the workload.
Kennard’s absence matters because of what he brings from the perimeter. He shot 47.8% from three last season, the best mark in the NBA, and Phoenix is trying to replace the shooting it lost with Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale no longer on the roster. The Suns are also looking for Kennard to provide more volume offensively, with the idea that his presence should create plenty of space for him to keep knocking down shots.
But Phoenix didn’t bring him in just for the scoring. Ott has also pointed to Kennard’s ability to help as a playmaker.
"(Kennard's) shown playmaking before in his career. Definitely last year at the end of last season, kind of sticks out in everyone's mind.
But he's a really good basketball player. We're lucky to have him," he said during preseason play.
Earlier this week, Ott sounded optimistic that Kennard might be ready to come off the bench. On Monday, he said, “He did more today, for sure, in practice," Ott said Monday (h/t The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin).
"This was kind of a test day to see exactly where he's at. Tomorrow will be a lower day. Try to be right for Wednesday.”
For now, though, the Suns will move ahead without him as they open the year with most of the roster healthy. Phoenix enters its second season under Ott after winning 45 games and making the postseason, with hopes of taking another step in 2026-27.
In Other News...
Blazers Open Season With A Real Availability Problem To Watch
The first official injury report of the season already gives the Trail Blazers plenty to monitor before their opener against Phoenix. The Suns will be without starting center Mark Williams because of a shoulder injury, and guard Luke Kennard is questionable after a knee injury, so there is no shortage of lineup uncertainty on the other side either.
Portlands own report is busier, with several players listed as questionable or out because of injuries and illness. For a team trying to get its season off on the right foot, the biggest question is not just who starts, but how much continuity the Blazers will actually have when the ball goes up. [Read more 🡒]
Why The Blazers Roster Build Suddenly Looks A Lot More Defensible
The NBA season opener offered a useful reminder of how roster construction can shift the way a rebuild is judged. Oklahoma City, fresh off a title and still built with unusual flexibility, handled San Antonio by leaning on a deep frontcourt that could answer Victor Wembanyama with Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and rookie Aday Mara. It was a vivid example of Sam Prestis long-running strategy: stockpile options, keep the fit wide open and make sure the team can survive almost any matchup without scrambling.
For Portland, the comparison is hard to ignore. The Trail Blazers have spent their rebuild under Joe Cronin trying to piece together a roster that can grow in stages rather than force a shortcut, and the Thunders success has made that approach look a lot more defensible. The lesson is not simply about having talent, but about building with enough size, depth and adaptability that a team is not boxed in by one opponent, one style or one timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Blazers Suddenly Have A Backcourt Decision With Real Trade Stakes
The Pistons opened the 2026-27 season by beating the Celtics, but the win came with an unmistakable reminder of how much still runs through Cade Cunningham. Detroits offense bogged down at times before a late fourth-quarter surge, and the early takeaway was simple enough: the team could use another reliable playmaker to ease the burden on Cunningham and help Ausar Thompson continue to grow into a larger offensive role.
That is where Portlands guard logjam starts to matter. With Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson all in the same backcourt mix, the Trail Blazers have a roster setup that could draw attention before the trade deadline, especially from a team like Detroit searching for help on the ball. Portland does not have to move anyone right away, but its collection of proven guards gives rival front offices something to keep filing away as the season develops. [Read more 🡒]