Phx-Suns.Net

Phoenix Suns: A

Preseason projection: 31.5 wins
Current projection: 46.4 wins

Thus far, team owner Mat Ishbia was right and the experts (myself included) were wrong about the Suns' offseason makeover, which saw them say farewell to marquee additions Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. In their place, Phoenix has built a hard-playing squad in the image of newcomer Dillon Brooks that excels at forcing turnovers and has barely dropped off offensively from last year's star-studded team, going from 13th in offensive rating to 15th. Collin Gillespie's emergence as a capable starting point guard has been one of the season's best stories -- earning him the nickname "Villain Jr." from Brooks -- and new coach Jordan Ott looks like he'll put an end to the revolving door on the Suns' sideline.

#5 Phoenix Suns
Last Week:5
Record: 25-17
OffRtg: 114.5 (15) DefRtg: 112.0 (4) NetRtg: +2.4 (11) Pace: 99.6 (20)

The Suns are 1-2 on the first of two six-game road trips, with all three games having come against East teams with winning records and all three having been within five points in the last five minutes.

Three takeaways

- The Suns were without Devin Booker in Detroit on Thursday, when they blew a 16-point lead and lost by three, scoring just 15 points on 25 fourth-quarter possessions. Their offense hasn’t been great (115.8 points scored per 100 possessions) with Booker on the floor, but they’re now 1-3 without him, having scored just 101.3 per 100 over those four games. Of course, all four have been on the road and against teams — Houston, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Detroit — that rank in the top nine defensively.

- Booker returned on Saturday, when the Suns beat the Knicks, who were playing without Jalen Brunson. Mitchell Robinson was there, but the Suns outscored New York (21-17) on second chances. While Phoenix is one of nine teams that have scored fewer points per 100 possessions than they did last season, it’s seen the league’s biggest jump in offensive rebounding percentage, from 26.4% (26th) last season to 33.6% (sixth) this season.

- The Suns’ starting lineup didn’t have its best night at Madison Square Garden, but bench minutes were huge as they erased two separate, 10-point deficits. Grayson Allen continues to close games, and the Suns have outscored opponents by 13.4 points per 100 possessions in 486 minutes with both Jordan Goodwin and Oso Ighodaro on the floor, and they have the league’s fifth-ranked bench overall.

Coming up: The second half of the Suns’ six-game trip is easier than the first half, and they’ll have a rest advantage in Brooklyn on Monday. They’re 4-0 (one of four undefeated teams) in rest-advantage games and 15-4 (with eight straight wins) against the 14 teams that are currently at or below .500.

Week 14: @ BKN, @ PHI, @ ATL, vs. MIA

Superbone wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 9:28 am

One of the most fun teams in NBA basketball to watch and nary a game on national TV. smh.

ShelC wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 10:49 am

We got flexed onto Prime on Feb 5th vs the Warrriors

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:54 pm

I think book gets in as a reserve. I think Brooks gets in if like there 2-3 injury replacements needed

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 1:54 pm

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:54 pm

I think book gets in as a reserve. I think Brooks gets in if like there 2-3 injury replacements needed

I think Book may get in. But Brooks? No way. Brooks has had a very nice season overall, but I would have to imagine that he's way, way down any depth chart for potential All-Stars.

specialsauce wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 3:00 pm

Idk Ryan Dunn's defense is so good he may get in, his shooting improved by .5% that is a candidate for MIP too

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 2:49 pm

Mori Chu wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 1:54 pm

Wally_West wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 19, 2026 12:54 pm

I think book gets in as a reserve. I think Brooks gets in if like there 2-3 injury replacements needed

I think Book may get in. But Brooks? No way.

List who would be ahead of him?