The Phoenix Suns have decided to rest their key players for their fourth preseason game in eight days against the Denver Nuggets.
Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Tyus Jones will not play in tonight’s road game, having participated in all three of the team’s prior preseason contests. Additionally, guard Devin Booker (right ankle soreness), center Jusuf Nurkić (left middle finger), guard Grayson Allen (Achilles soreness), and guard/forward Josh Okogie (hamstring tightness) have already been ruled out.
With these absences, Phoenix (2-1 in preseason) will start Monté Morris, Ryan Dunn, Royce O’Neale, Bol Bol, and Mason Plumlee.
Durant (18 points on 7-of-12 shooting), Beal (17 points on 7-of-15 shooting), and Jones (11 points, three rebounds, and two steals) each played 24 minutes in Friday’s 109-91 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Booker was ruled out just before that game due to his injury.
“It’s the preseason, there’s no reason to push him with his ankle,” coach Budenholzer said postgame about Booker. “I think he’ll be fine.”
Nurkić, who suffered his finger injury last week, will miss all four preseason games. He is scheduled for re-evaluation today. “He’s making good progress,” Budenholzer noted after Saturday’s practice. “We feel good about it. He won’t play tomorrow, but we’re happy with his progress.”
Allen will miss his third consecutive game; he was initially out for personal reasons but is now dealing with Achilles soreness. He did warm up before Friday’s game.
Okogie left the locker room during the third quarter of Friday’s loss and did not return due to hamstring tightness. He is the only one among the four players without a clear role in the rotation after re-signing with Phoenix this offseason, averaging 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 14.3 minutes over the first three preseason games.
Budenholzer is eager to see how other players rise to the occasion in the absence of these key Suns. “On Sunday, some of these other guys will get opportunities, and even last night, it’s the silver lining of having injured players,” he said Saturday.
