Suns' Star Guard Grayson Allen's Knee Woes Continue
The Phoenix Suns are facing a potential setback as guard Grayson Allen is listed as doubtful for their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Lakers due to persistent knee soreness. This news comes as a concern for Suns fans, especially considering Allen's recent absence from the team's last two games against the Golden State Warriors.
But here's where it gets controversial... Allen's knee soreness has kept him out of action for a significant period, with this being his third consecutive game on the sidelines. His last appearance was on December 14th against the Lakers, where he put up an impressive stat line of 13 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. If Allen is unable to play on Tuesday, it will mark his 11th missed game of the season, with previous absences attributed to a right quad contusion and an illness.
And this is the part most people miss... the Suns are also dealing with the absence of Jalen Green, who is expected to be re-evaluated in the coming weeks due to a right hamstring strain. Green has only played in two games this season, which is a significant loss for the team.
Suns coach Jordan Ott provided an update on Green's injury, stating, "Still great progress. I think everything's headed in the right direction. Everything seems to be good." This is a positive sign for the team, but it remains to be seen when Green will be able to return to action.
In other injury news, Jordan Goodwin will be available to play despite wearing a facemask to protect his sprained jaw. Meanwhile, the Lakers are also dealing with their fair share of injuries. Former Suns center Deandre Ayton is expected to make his return on Tuesday night after missing two games due to left elbow soreness. However, Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent have all been ruled out, while Austin Reaves is listed as questionable.
Doncic suffered a left leg contusion after an unfortunate collision with Los Angeles Clippers guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, forcing him to sit out the entire second half of their game on Saturday. Hachimura and Vincent are also dealing with injuries, with Hachimura missing his second straight game due to right groin soreness and Vincent out with a lumbar strain.
Reaves, who has missed the Lakers' last three games due to a left calf strain, could make his return on Tuesday. The Suns and Lakers will tip off at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and the game can be heard on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
So, will the Suns be able to overcome these injury setbacks and put up a strong performance against the Lakers? And what impact will the Lakers' own injury woes have on the game? These are the questions on everyone's minds as we await this highly anticipated matchup. Don't forget to follow @veenstra_david for more updates and insights on the NBA!
