The Phoenix Suns may have to navigate Wednesday night without another important piece of their rotation when they open a seven-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jordan Goodwin is listed as questionable with right calf soreness after leaving Monday’s 116-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter and not returning. Phoenix also added Rasheer Fleming, who is dealing with a left ankle sprain, to the injury report as questionable. Mark Williams remains out following left shoulder surgery.
Goodwin’s status matters because he has been one of the Suns’ most reliable energy sources off the bench. Through five games, he’s averaging 7.8 points while shooting 37.5% from 3-point range, along with 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals. That kind of production has given Phoenix a lift, and the team would feel his absence if he can’t go.
After Monday’s loss, Suns coach Jordan Ott described how the injury happened, saying, "I think it was opposite our bench. Whether he was going towards the rim for some reason or he was tagging or whatever. It's just his right calf," via The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin.
The Suns enter the night at 1-4 and are still searching for a cleaner, more complete performance. They’ve shown flashes in recent games, including building a 17-point first-half lead against Golden State, but haven’t been able to sustain it.
"I think the first quarter, early second quarter, we seen some things that worked and then right before halftime, (we) lost it. And then fourth quarter, lost it," Devin Booker said after the game via Rankin.
"We have some spots. We've been saying it the past few games, we just have to put 48 minutes together."
Phoenix will also have a little extra motivation from its first meeting with Portland this season, when the Blazers raced out to a 21-0 lead and rolled to a 124-83 win over the Suns in the opener a couple weeks ago.
Portland comes in at 5-1 but will be missing Ja Morant, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and Shaedon Sharpe, who is out with a right meniscus issue.
Miles Bridges, who has provided a spark for Phoenix over the last couple of games, said the Suns need a sharper approach if they want to get back on track.
"Just playing the full 48 and thinking the game. We’re just going out there and playing.
We’ve got to start thinking the game, especially in certain situations," Bridges said via Rankin. "We made a step in the right direction again, and hopefully we’ll do great on this homestand."
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