Injury Report
| Player |
Team |
Date |
Status |
Info |
| Dario Saric |
Phoenix Suns |
7 Jul 2022 |
Out (Knee) |
Saric suffered a torn ACL and there is no timetable for his return. |
| Frank Kaminsky |
Phoenix Suns |
7 Jan 2022 |
Out (Knee) |
Kaminsky underwent surgery on his right knee and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. |
| Chris Paul |
Phoenix Suns |
20 Feb 2022 |
Out (Thumb) |
Paul has a thumb fracture and will be re-evaluated in 6-8 weeks. |
| Cameron Johnson |
Phoenix Suns |
22 Mar 2022 |
Out (Quad) |
Johnson was OUT for Phoenix’s Wednesday (Mar 23) game. |
| Jamal Murray |
Denver Nuggets |
22 Jul 2021 |
Out (Knee) |
Murray suffered a torn ACL and there is no timetable for his return. |
| Vlatko Cancar |
Denver Nuggets |
7 Jan 2022 |
Out (Foot) |
Cancar had surgery on his foot and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks. |
| Michael Porter Jr. |
Denver Nuggets |
27 Feb 2022 |
Out (Back) |
Porter Jr. has been cleared for on-court contact and is hoping to return sometime in March. |
| Zeke Nnaji |
Denver Nuggets |
23 Mar 2022 |
Day to Day (Ankle) |
Nnaji was OUT for Denver’s Tuesday (Mar 22) game. |
How Can the Suns Beat the Nuggets?
The Phoenix Suns have some tremendous players at their disposal, but there is still a lot of opportunity for other players. While the stars tend to do the heavy lifting, Phoenix could find more production out of their bench.
In their last game, a win over the Timberwolves, the Suns’ bench contributed 28 points to Minnesota’s bench’s 55. Only Torrey Craig and Landry Shamet played more than 10 minutes off the bench, but expect others to get more time on the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Phoenix Suns can earn their 60th win on the season if they defeat the Nuggets here. It won’t be easy for them, but they play an unselfish style of basketball that can prop up their less frequent contributors.
Suns Key Player: (G) Devin Booker
With Chris Paul having been out for a significant amount of time, it has been Devin Booker who has stepped up to the plate to carry the Suns. While not a natural playmaker, Booker’s scoring instincts have been more than enough to make up for Paul’s absence.
In his last game, a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Booker posted 28 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds in 35 minutes of play. He was solid from the field, shooting 7 of 15, while converting on 13 of 16 free throw attempts.
When Devin Booker is aggressive, he opens up so many opportunities for his teammates. If he can continue to get to the line at a high rate, it will be hard for the Nuggets to keep up.
How Can the Nuggets Beat the Suns?
There’s no real secret to how the Denver Nuggets find victory. When they are aggressive on both ends of the court, their MVP center finds a way to involve everybody. Having multiple contributors on efficient shooting can overwhelm even the Suns’ defence.
In the Nuggets’ last game, a win over the LA Clippers, Denver shot a blistering 54.2% from the field and 50% from three-point range on 32 attempts. They had 7 double digit scorers, their entire starting lineup and guards Austin Rivers and Bones Hyland off the bench.
The Nuggets assisted on 31 of their 45 field goal attempts in their last game, a performance that must be replicated to beat Phoenix. With few one-on-one options of their own and the league’s third-best defence in front of them, converting on well manufactured opportunities is Denver’s best bet.
Nuggets Key Player: (C) Nikola Jokic
As expected, the recent success of the Denver Nuggets is due to reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. The Serbian international has done everything he can to keep the Nuggets competitive in the West, and will need to be on point against the league’s best.
In his last game, a win over the LA Clippers, Nikola Jokic was brilliant. He posted 30 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 steals in 34 minutes of play. While he failed to convert on either of his 2 three-point field goal attempts, Jokic was 12 of 13 from the free throw line on the night.
Coming up against a very capable interior defence and defender in DeAndre Ayton, Nikola Jokic will need to be just as productive. With the Suns’ excellent defence, Jokic will have to be more proactive in finding opportunities from range.
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