The Phoenix Suns are set to continue their early-season road trip on Saturday night, October 25, as they face off against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. This matchup will be the second game of a back-to-back for the Suns, following their initial loss of the season against the Los Angeles Clippers, where they fell 129-102. Star players James Harden and Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with strong performances, scoring 30 and 27 points respectively, marking their first win of the season.
For the Suns, Dillon Brooks led the team with 21 points, while Devin Booker contributed 18 points, albeit on an uncharacteristic 5-of-10 shooting performance. The Suns currently hold a record of 1-1 and are looking to bounce back against the Nuggets, who are also aiming for their first win after starting their season with a close 137-131 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately, the Suns will be missing two key players for the game against the Nuggets. Jalen Green remains sidelined with a right hamstring strain, a condition that has kept him from participating in any games this season thus far. Suns coach Jordan Ott indicated that Green is progressing well and is considered day-to-day as the team wraps up their road trip against the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Additionally, Mark Williams has been ruled out with right knee injury management. After missing all of preseason, he participated in the first two regular-season games but did not perform as expected, registering only two points and six rebounds in the loss to the Clippers. Given these absences, Oso Ighodaro is expected to start at center, a challenging task as the Suns face off against three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
With the Suns navigating injuries and a tough early schedule, fans are hopeful for a strong performance against the Nuggets to get back on track. As they approach their next game against the Jazz, the Suns will need to rally and maximize their remaining roster strengths. Stay tuned for updates as the Suns look to find their rhythm in the new season.