Suns’ Ryan Dunn continues to improve at bringing up the ball
The Phoenix Suns’ sophomore forward discusses his leap taken in bringing up the ball and helping to initiate the offense during the 2025-26 season.
- Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn is listed as probable for their game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Suns center Mark Williams is expected to return after missing one game with a sore right calf.
LOS ANGELES – Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn is listed as probable with a right wrist sprain for the Monday, Dec. 1, matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Dunn has missed Phoenix’s past five games with the injury he suffered Nov. 21 on an unsuccessful dunk attempt over Minnesota Timberwolves big Rudy Gobert that ended with a hard fall to the floor.
Dunn is averaging 8.4 points a game in his second season with the Suns (12-9).
Mark Williams is set to return after missing the Nov. 29 130-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets with a sore right calf in what was the second of a back-to-back.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said after the loss to the Nuggets that the team didn’t expect this to be a “long term” issue for Williams, who played a total of 106 games in his first three NBA seasons with the Charlotte Hornets due to multiple injuries.
Williams hasn’t played in the second of a back-to-back in his first season with the Suns. He’s averaging 12.9 points, on 64.4% shooting, and 9.2 rebounds in 17 games.
The Suns are 11-6 when Williams has played and 1-3 when he hasn’t.
Williams was set to join the Lakers before last season’s trade deadline, but the trade from Charlotte was rescinded by the Lakers because of a failed physical.
The Hornets were getting then-rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and a 2031 first-round pick from the Lakers for Williams.
Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and Isaiah Livers (right hip strain) have been ruled out against the Lakers. Green has played only two games for the Suns in his first season with the team and is scheduled for a re-evaluation of his injury later in December.
The Suns announced Nov. 11 that Green would be re-evaluated in four to six weeks.
Livers missed all last season with a right hip injury.
The Lakers (15-4) topped New Orleans, 133-121, on Nov. 30 against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first of a back-to-back at home without LeBron James.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer sat out with left foot injury management. Marcus Smart was sidelined with back spasms and Bronny James was on G League assignment.
LeBron James has played four games for the Lakers as he made his season debut on Nov. 18 against Utah.
“It is an injury he’s had the past, it’s something we’ve had to manage in the past,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the Nov. 30 game. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that he’s basically just coming his training camp. This has been his training camp over the last 10 days or so. Just being cautious.”
James is averaging 16.5 points, 8.3 assists and five rebounds in his NBA-record 23rd NBA season.
Redick talked about the strategy for James.
“We’re going to build him up to hopefully play in back-to-backs,” Redick said. “That’s the goal, but every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That’s the reality of the NBA right now. We want him to be able to play back-to-backs. So does he. We’re going to work towards that.”
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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