Luke Kennard moved from out to day-to-day and Oso Ighodaro landed on the list with a right hip issue, both with an estimated return of Oct. 24. That is the night Phoenix hosts Golden State, and it needs far more than the 53 points its starters gave in Portland.
Kennard back in range. A left knee kept Kennard out in Portland, and on Oct. 22 his tag moved from out to day-to-day. He scored 20 in the Oct. 10 win over the Spurs. Shooting is what this group lacked: Miles Bridges went 0-5 from deep and Devin Booker never attempted a three.
Ighodaro's hip. Ighodaro went on the list Oct. 22 with a right hip issue after 8 points on 4-7 shooting in 15 minutes. Arizona Sports reported he left the game with an apparent hip injury. His -7 was the third-best mark on the team, which says plenty about everyone else.
Heat check on the stars. Booker went 7-13 from the field and 9-9 on free throws for 23 points, and still finished -43 in 29 minutes. The salaries behind him did not return value: Jalen Green at $36.3M shot 4-12, Bridges at $22.8M shot 3-11, Dillon Brooks at $20.0M shot 4-11.
Where it broke. Portland opened with a 21-0 burst and led 43-12 after one quarter. Phoenix called timeout at 0-11 and again at 6-32. There were zero lead changes and zero ties, and the Blazers' biggest lead reached 52. The Suns' best quarters produced 27 points, twice.
The bill. Payroll sits at $213.8M, past the $200.4M tax line, and the 2027 first-rounder belongs to Houston. A 0-1 team carrying tax money has also slid from 15th to 30th in power rankings in a week, and it now sits 14th in the West.
The open question. Khaman Maluach started at center, per Arizona Sports, and finished -30 in 17 minutes, while Mark Williams has an estimated return of Feb. 3, 2027. Does Jordan Ott stay with the 20-year-old against Golden State, or lean on Duop Reath, who was +2 in 9 minutes?
Will Luke Kennard play against the Warriors?
He is day-to-day with a left knee issue and an estimated return of Oct. 24, the date of the Warriors game. He was upgraded from out on Oct. 22.
When is Mark Williams expected back for the Suns?
His estimated return is Feb. 3, 2027. He is listed out because of a left shoulder issue.
