Jalen

Green

Green’s efficiency has improved by the game in this series, but the Suns still find themselves in a 0-3 hole. Amongst Suns players, only Dillon Brooks scored more points than Green in Game 3, and he was also effective as a playmaker for others with six assists and one turnover. If Phoenix is to send the series back to Oklahoma City for a Game 5, they’re going to need Green’s best effort of the season in Game 4 on Monday.

Green struggled again with his shooting after an inefficient opening game. He missed 15 shots on Wednesday, and nearly tallied as many turnovers as he made field goals. Green is now shooting 14-of-39 from the field through two games in this series, which is a far different outcome compared to the 28-of-49 shooting and 71 points he tallied over the two Play-In Tournament games. Phoenix will likely need Green to get back on track offensively if it wants to get back in the series on Saturday.

Green shot 2-of-7 from beyond the arc in Game 1, with the complete stat line being countered in an inefficient day of shooting the basketball. Like Devin Booker (23/6/2 with two three-pointers), the Suns are going to need a much better showing from Green if they’re to have any chance of making the series competitive, much less harbor ambitions of winning it. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night.

Green was exceptional on Friday to help the Suns clinch a spot in the playoffs. The first-year Sun accounted for nearly half of his team’s 18 triples, and missed only six shots en route to totaling a game-high 36 points. He also contributed as a facilitator and amassed five stocks on the defensive end of the floor. Phoenix will take the floor in less than 48 hours to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, where Green will look to stay hot.

Green was Phoenix’s best scorer on a night that he logged a team-high 39 minutes. He was cold from the three-point line but made up for his inefficiency from beyond the arc by dazzling in the paint and finding production in the midrange. Green, however, did commit five turnovers in the process. Still, his positives outweighed the negatives on this night, and he’ll have another opportunity to help Phoenix get into the playoffs on Friday when it faces the winner of Wednesday’s Clippers-Warriors game.

Green started the year battling injuries and somewhat fittingly will miss the last two games of the regular season with a sore right knee. Rasheer Fleming, Amir Coffey and Khaman Maluach could play significant minutes with the Suns missing multiple starters on Sunday.

While Green and Goodwin sat out Friday’s loss to the Lakers, Williams started and played 20 minutes. With the Suns having already secured the No. 7 seed, whichever regulars are available may not play much against the Thunder. This could be a game in which players like Rasheer Fleming, Amir Coffey and Khaman Maluach play significant minutes.

Green’s sore right knee, which ended his time on the floor in the first quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Mavericks, will keep him out on Friday. Phoenix is locked into the No. 7 seed in the West, so ensuring that he’s at full strength for Tuesday’s Play-In Tournament game is the priority. Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie will take on bigger roles within the Suns’ offense.

Green exited Wednesday’s win over the Mavericks during the first quarter due to a sore right knee. The Suns will be the No. 7 seed in the West regardless of what happens in their final two regular-season games, so this may be an opportunity to get Green additional rest at the end of an injury-riddled campaign.

Green left the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Mavericks after just four minutes of action. He limped off the floor and headed to the locker room, and although he was never ruled out, he was ultimately deemed questionable before never returning. Green has struggled with injuries throughout his first season in Phoenix, and another one this late into the schedule is certainly untimely. His injury status will be one to monitor with just two regular-season games remaining.