The Republic discusses the Suns’ upcoming homestand, matchup with Spurs
The Phoenix Suns begin a 3-game homestand on Oct. 29, in which they host the Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs.
Republic staff
The Phoenix Suns begin a three-game homestand Wednesday night, Oct. 29, against the Memphis Grizzlies at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The game begins at 7 p.m. and will air on Arizona’s Family (3TV) in Phoenix.
The Suns (1-3) went winless in their three-game road trip, losing the final one in overtime, 138-134, against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27.
Phoenix will be without Dillon Brooks for a second straight game with right groin soreness, while Jalen Green has been upgraded to questionable. He has yet to make his season debut with his new team.
Green didn’t miss a game in his last two seasons with the Houston Rockets. The Suns landed Brooks, Green and the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, 7-footer Khaman Maluach, from the Rockets in the Kevin Durant trade.
The Grizzlies (2-2) are coming off a 131-118 loss at Golden State.
Check back with azcentral.com for updates throughout the evening.
Booker struggles, but Suns tighten up defensively, lead Grizzlies
Phoenix had allowed an average of 69.5 points in the first half of its first four games, as the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets each eclipsed 70 points in the first half. The Jazz totaled 64 in the first half of their overtime win over Phoenix.
The Suns reversed that trend Wednesday.
Not only are they ahead at the half for the first time this season, they limited the Grizzlies to 49 points in building a four-point advantage at the break.
This is with Devin Booker scoring just three points on 1-of-9 shooting.
Collin Gillespie is pacing the Suns (1-3) with 13 points and Mark Williams has 10 in his first start with the Suns after coming off the bench in the three previous games he’s played for the team.
Jaren Jackson Jr. leads Memphis (2-2) with 13 points while Ja Morant has 10. The Suns are looking to snap a three-game skid and remain unbeaten at home.
Mark Williams getting first start with Suns
Suns big Mark Williams will make his first start with the Phoenix Suns for Wednesday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Williams is coming off a season-high 25-point effort to go along with 11 rebounds in Monday night’s overtime loss to the Utah Jazz to conclude a three-game road trip.
He tied the game on a putback with 1.9 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Williams played a season-high 31 minutes Monday. The 7-footer came off the bench in three games for Phoenix but didn’t play in the second of a back-to-back Saturday against the Denver Nuggets.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said Williams is still on target minutes, but also talked about how Williams has had good recovery after each game. How his body reacts to playing is just as important as how he actually plays as the Suns are looking long-term with him.
Phoenix traded two first-round picks to Charlotte in acquiring Williams, who started 41 of his 44 games last season with the Hornets. The Suns have had him on a conditioning plan since July 1. Williams played in just 106 games in his first three NBA seasons due to multiple injuries.
The Grizzlies are starting Ja Morant, Jaylen Wells, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jock Landale, who played for the Suns in the 2022-23 season.
Suns guard Jalen Green has been downgraded to out for Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies to begin a three-game homestand at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Green was listed as questionable on Tuesday’s injury report.
Dillon Brooks will miss his second straight game with right groin soreness.
Green has yet to make his Suns debut as he initially strained his hamstring in training camp going into the Oct. 3 preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers in Palm Desert, California.
He aggravated the injury during the team’s weeklong stay in China, where Phoenix played two games against the Brooklyn Nets. Green didn’t miss a game in his final two seasons with the Rockets.
Grayson Allen has been starting for Green while Royce O’Neale got the start for Brooks Oct. 27 in Utah.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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