The Phoenix Suns are still a work in progress and injuries have played a part in them taking longer to click. With the Suns elenventh in the Western Conference standings, they will have to string together a an extended stretch of good health to try and make up ground in the West.
First, they need to get Devin Booker healthy. He has missed the last five games with a shoulder injury with the Suns going just 1-4 without arguably their best player. However, he is making progress but will he play New Years eve against the Memphis Grizzlies?
Phoenix Suns full injury report
The Suns could be without several key players when they face the Grizzlies on New Years eve. In addition to Booker being listed as questionable, they may also be missing Grayson Allen with Allen in the concussion protocol but he is probable.
The Suns may also be without Bol Bol and Collin Gillespie with Bol questionable to play because of a knee injury while Gillespie might not play because of an ankle injury. However, neither of them are rotation players. Meanwhile, Royce O'Neale will not play against the Grizzlies with an ankle injury.
Memphis Grizzlies full injury report
Currently, Morant is listed as out with a shoulder injury, but he isn't the only player on the injury report. Brandon Clarke may miss their game against OKC with a knee injury while Santi Aldama, Marcus Smart, and GG Jackson are all out.
Aldama is out with an ankle sprain, Smart has a tear in his index finger, Williams Jr. has a sprained ankle, and Jackson is still out after foot surgery Grizzlies starting center.Zach Edey is also out with a concussion, Yuik Kawamura is questionable with a shoulder injury and Jake LaRavia is out with an ankle injury.
Being without their best player and three rotation players will hurt and seriously impact the Grizzlies chances of stealing a game against the Suns on the road. That is good news for the Suns who could use a relatively easy win with them hoping to claw their way back up the West standings.
Having Booker back would help to tip the scales in their favor but even without him, they should be able to take advantage of Memphis' injury woes. At the moment, Booker is day-to-day with his shoulder injury but their is a chance that he could make his return on New Year's eve.