Lead
Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks suffered a broken left hand during Saturday’s double-overtime win over the Orlando Magic and is expected to miss an extended period, sources told ESPN. Team doctors planned a Sunday meeting to set a precise recovery timetable. The injury compounds an already strained backcourt: the Suns announced before Saturday’s game that All-Star guard Devin Booker will sit out at least one week with a right hip strain suffered Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs. The developments come as Phoenix fights for postseason positioning at 33-24.
Key Takeaways
- Dillon Brooks sustained a broken left hand in the double-OT victory over Orlando and played seven minutes, recording five points and three rebounds before exiting.
- Sources told ESPN doctors would meet Sunday to establish a timetable; Brooks is expected to be sidelined for an extended period pending that evaluation.
- Devin Booker was ruled out at least one week with a right hip strain after an injury against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
- Brooks is averaging 21.2 points and 3.7 rebounds this season and has increased his scoring by 6.9 points from last year, the sixth-largest jump among scoring-title qualifiers per ESPN Research.
- Phoenix has gone 3-4 in games without Brooks this season; the team’s overall record is 33-24 under first-year head coach Jordan Ott.
- Booker is averaging 24.7 points, 6.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds across 44 games this season and recently missed seven games with a sprained right ankle.
Background
The Suns entered 2025 positioned as an unexpected playoff threat, blending established scorers with new additions under rookie head coach Jordan Ott. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks have been the primary backcourt catalysts: Booker as the veteran All-Star playmaker and scorer, Brooks as a two-way wing who has significantly boosted his offensive output this season. Phoenix’s roster also features young pieces — Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Mark Williams and Ryan Dunn — who have absorbed varying roles as the team adapts a new culture and identity.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Phoenix: Booker missed seven consecutive games earlier this season with a sprained right ankle, and the team has navigated other lineup changes while chasing home-court positioning. The Suns’ 33-24 mark reflects both consistency and disruption; depth and health have become central variables in their late-season trajectory. With the playoffs looming, the club’s margin for more absences is limited.
Main Event
The injury to Brooks occurred in Saturday’s double-overtime matchup with the Orlando Magic, a game Phoenix ultimately won. Brooks logged seven minutes before leaving with what team sources described to ESPN as a broken left hand; official imaging and medical consultation were scheduled for Sunday to clarify the extent. At the time he exited, Brooks had five points and three rebounds.
Sources say the team expects Brooks to be sidelined beyond the immediate days following the game, though the precise timetable depends on the medical team’s Sunday assessment. The Suns announced Booker’s absence prior to the same game: the 29-year-old will miss at least one week because of a right hip strain sustained Thursday against San Antonio. Booker had already missed time this season while recovering from an ankle sprain.
Coaching staff and front-office personnel must now reconfigure rotations for the coming slate. With both Booker and Brooks unavailable to varying degrees, younger wings and reserves are likely to see elevated minutes. The Suns’ immediate schedule and matchup specifics will influence how coach Jordan Ott redeploys offensive and defensive responsibilities.
Analysis & Implications
On offense, losing Brooks removes a 21.2-point-per-game scorer who also brings physicality and perimeter defense. His 6.9-point year-over-year increase made him one of the league’s most improved primary scorers this season; replacing that scoring without sacrificing defensive toughness will be a primary coaching challenge. Booker’s absence, even if brief, subtracts a second high-usage creator (24.7 points, 6.1 assists) and limits playmaking options for role players.
Strategically, Phoenix may shift toward more ball movement and pick-and-roll minutes for Jalen Green and Collin Gillespie to offset the missing shot creation. Mark Williams and Ryan Dunn could see altered roles on both ends as the team seeks interior stability and floor-spacing balance. Opponents may exploit the Suns’ reduced wing depth with quicker lineups; matchups against high-scoring guards or switch-heavy defenses will test the adjusted unit.
From a playoff outlook, the Suns’ margin for error narrows. A multi-week absence for Brooks would strain depth in a competitive Western Conference, where single-game swings can affect seeding. Front-office options include minor rotation reshuffles, temporary two-way call-ups, or short-term transactions if the medical prognosis suggests an extended recovery. The team’s performance over the next 7–14 games will be a significant indicator of how durable their postseason positioning remains.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Dillon Brooks | Devin Booker | Phoenix Suns (team) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points per game | 21.2 | 24.7 | — |
| Rebounds per game | 3.7 | 3.9 | — |
| Assists per game | — | 6.1 | — |
| Record | — | — | 33-24 |
| Record without Brooks (this season) | 3-4 | ||
The table underscores each player’s individual production and the team’s overall standing. Brooks’ absence is already correlated with a losing short-sample record (3-4) this season; statistically meaningful trends will require a longer stretch, but the immediate pragmatic effect is fewer perimeter scoring options. Booker’s volume and playmaking role are harder to replicate; his averages indicate he is still the Suns’ primary offensive fulcrum when available.
Reactions & Quotes
Sources told ESPN that Brooks suffered a broken left hand and that doctors would convene to determine a recovery plan.
ESPN sources
The Suns announced before Saturday’s game that Devin Booker would be sidelined at least one week due to a right hip strain.
Suns (team announcement)
ESPN Research noted Brooks’ 6.9-point scoring increase from last season, the sixth-largest jump among players who qualified for scoring title consideration in both years.
ESPN Research
Unconfirmed
- Whether Brooks will require surgery to repair the broken left hand has not been confirmed pending Sunday’s medical evaluation.
- The precise length of Brooks’ absence is not finalized; sources indicate an extended layoff is likely but provided no specific timeline.
- It is unconfirmed whether the Suns will pursue external roster moves or short-term signings in immediate response to these injuries.
Bottom Line
The Suns face a significant short-term challenge with two primary guards unavailable: Dillon Brooks with a broken left hand and Devin Booker out at least one week with a hip strain. Both absences reduce Phoenix’s scoring and defensive versatility, forcing coach Jordan Ott to rely on younger rotation players and to adjust offensive responsibilities. How the Suns navigate the next two weeks — in matchups, minutes distribution and potential roster moves — will shape their standing in a tight Western Conference race.
Medical updates after the Sunday evaluations will be pivotal. If Brooks’ recovery is prolonged, the Suns will need sustainable alternatives to preserve their postseason positioning; if the injury window is shorter, the team’s core could reconvene in time to contest seeding. For now, the club must balance caution and competitiveness as it pursues a playoff berth.
Sources
- ESPN — sports media report (original coverage and ESPN Research)
- The Associated Press — news agency (contributed reporting)