The Phoenix Suns could be short-handed in their most important game of the season.
Starting center Mark Williams and guard Grayson Allen are both listed as questionable ahead of Friday night’s NBA Play-In Tournament elimination game against the Golden State Warriors, adding another layer of uncertainty as Phoenix fights to keep its season alive.
The winner will advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and face the Oklahoma City Thunder. The loser will be eliminated.
Suns Injury Update: Mark Williams, Grayson Allen Questionable vs Warriors
GettyMark Williams could miss the Phoenix Suns’ play-in tournament knockout game against the Golden State Warriors.
Williams is dealing with left foot soreness after logging 22 minutes in Tuesday’s 114-110 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He finished with four points, four rebounds, two assists and a game-high three blocks.
While his rim protection stood out, Williams’ offensive production has remained limited. Over his past two games, he has averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21 minutes per contest, and his role has fluctuated as Phoenix has adjusted its frontcourt rotation.
Allen’s status carries greater uncertainty after he exited an April 10 game against the Los Angeles Lakers with a left hamstring injury. He did not return in that contest and missed Phoenix’s play-in loss to Portland.
If Allen is unable to play, Phoenix could turn to Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin or Ryan Dunn for additional minutes in the backcourt, with spacing and perimeter shooting likely becoming a greater emphasis.
Suns Face Must-Win Game After Play-In Collapse vs Trail Blazers
Phoenix enters Friday’s matchup under pressure after letting a playoff opportunity slip away earlier this week.
The Suns led Portland by 11 points with less than seven minutes remaining before the Trail Blazers mounted a comeback, exposing late-game execution issues that Phoenix will need to correct quickly.
The loss also placed the Suns in position to become the first No. 7 seed since the play-in format was introduced in 2021 to miss the playoffs after dropping consecutive games.
Warriors Ride Stephen Curry Momentum Into Elimination Matchup
The Warriors arrive with momentum after a dramatic 126-121 comeback victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Stephen Curry scored 35 points — including 27 in the second half — as Golden State erased a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to advance.
Curry, who recently returned from a knee injury, appears to be rounding into form at a critical time. He averaged 23.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists against Phoenix during the regular season.
Golden State also won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams, giving the Warriors added confidence entering the matchup.
Suns vs Warriors Play-In Stakes Put Pressure on Phoenix Rotation
Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST (10 p.m. ET) in Phoenix.
For the Suns, the margin for error is gone. With two rotation players potentially unavailable and their season on the line, Phoenix must find a way to stabilize its lineup against a Warriors team that has already shown its ability to close under pressure.
Execution, depth and health will all play a role in determining whether the Suns can extend their season — or see it end one game short of the playoffs.
Suns Get Concerning Injury Update Ahead of Play-In Clash vs Warriors