Suns aim to continue season of surprise minus Devin Booker, Jalen Green

The Suns are grinding through a difficult stretch, and the absences of Devin Booker and Jalen Green have only magnified the challenge.

That said, Phoenix managed to hold off the Nets for a 106-102 home win on Tuesday. But this is just the start.

Booker remains sidelined with an ankle injury, and his impact is not just about scoring. He is averaging a team-high 25.4 points and 6.2 assists, and his presence alone changes how defenses react, opening cleaner looks for everyone else.

“When he’s in the game, I think it simplifies the way we get open looks,” Grayson Allen said, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “We still do a good job most of the time… but it’s just harder and it’s harder to sustain for a 48-minute game.”

Green’s situation has been even more frustrating. The 23-year-old has appeared in only four games this season and logged just four minutes in his most recent outing before feeling right hamstring tightness again.

He did not suit up against Brooklyn, marking what appears to be his third setback since initially straining the hamstring in training camp.

“When he’s ready to play and he feels good, he’ll be back out there,” coach Jordan Ott said. “He’s been out for a while. He’s going to have to learn his body… He wants to feel right.”