The Suns lost 125-114 to a Thunder team missing Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and four others, and fell from eighth to 11th in the West at 1-2. Oso Ighodaro came off the out list Tuesday, and Phoenix has four days off before the Nuggets come to town.
A door left open. Oklahoma City played without Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and three others, and with no rest. Phoenix never led by more than one point. A 9-0 Thunder run late in the first quarter broke it open, and Arizona Sports' Kellan Olson wrote that the Suns were unable to pounce.
Mitchell did the damage. Ajay Mitchell scored 30 in 26 minutes, shooting 10-of-16 from the field and 9-of-10 at the line. Gilgeous-Alexander added 26. Isaiah Hartenstein went 6-of-7 with 13 rebounds, and Aday Mara had 11 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. The Thunder led by as many as 22.
Heat check on the stars. Jalen Green was the efficient one, with 20 points on 8-of-13. Dillon Brooks scored 19 with three steals but shot 4-of-14 and got most of his points at the line, going 8-of-12. Miles Bridges went 2-of-10 from three and finished minus-17, the team's worst. Bright Side of the Sun's recap headline said Booker "goes AWOL."
Range from the reserves. Luke Kennard went 3-of-5 from deep, and Jordan Goodwin hit 4 of 8 threes for 12 points. The bench scored 36. Ryan Dunn, plus-5 in 14 minutes, was the only Sun who finished with a positive plus-minus.
Ighodaro off the out list. Oso Ighodaro was upgraded from out Tuesday. The oblique injury is still listed, and his projected return is Oct. 30. His status has flipped six times since Oct. 23, so treat that date as a guide, not a promise. Mark Williams, with a left shoulder injury, is not projected back before Feb. 3.
The number, the question. Phoenix has a 124.5 defensive rating through three games and has allowed 124, 122 and 125 points. That is what a $213.8M payroll above the first apron is getting on defense. At 1-2, the Suns sit 11th with the same record as 10th-place Denver. Can Jordan Ott find stops before the Nuggets arrive?
When is Oso Ighodaro expected back for the Suns?
He was upgraded from out on Oct. 27 with an oblique injury. His projected return is Oct. 30 against Denver.
Where do the Suns stand in the West?
Phoenix is 1-2 and 11th, with the same record as 10th-place Denver. The Suns are 1.5 games behind sixth-place Minnesota.
