The Phoenix Suns face mounting challenges as injuries continue to strike, complicating their pursuit of success this NBA season. On Thursday, February 19, 2026, during a home game against the San Antonio Spurs in Austin, right ankle sprain to Grayson Allen and right hip soreness to Devin Booker left the team scrambling for depth and momentum. Head coach Jordan Ott expressed frustration amid the ongoing setbacks, highlighting the tough reality the Suns face in trying to maintain a healthy, competitive lineup.
Injuries Strike During Practice and Game
The Suns looked to rebound with a healthy roster after the NBA All-Star break, but during the morning shootaround on game day, Grayson Allen sustained a right ankle sprain that ruled him out of the contest against the Spurs. Coach Ott described the incident as an unfortunate “quick tweak” during unusual circumstances at shootaround that prevented Allen from participating in the game.
Shootaround. Weird instances. Quick tweak. They tried it here pregame. Not able to go.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Devin Booker, the team’s star guard, initially played through right hip soreness but was forced to exit the game early in the second half after showing limited mobility. Ott detailed Booker’s struggle to stay on the court despite pain, emphasizing the player’s willingness to push beyond his limits but the necessity of precaution.
Tried to go back out there. Save himself from himself. Wanted to go out and play. Wasn’t moving great when he came back in.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Booker’s time on the floor was severely limited, totaling nine minutes with only five points scored on 2-of-6 shooting. He first left the game with over five minutes remaining in the first quarter, returned briefly before exiting with two and a half minutes left in the first half, and did not re-enter thereafter. Ott noted Booker appeared fine initially but his movement declined during his final stint.
He felt good enough to come back in and the first couple of times up and down, I didn’t notice anything and then definitely noticed there at the end of that second stint.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Team Performance Suffers as Injuries Mount
Without Booker and Allen, the Suns couldn’t keep pace with a dominant Spurs team, ultimately falling 121-94 before a full crowd of 16,258 at the Moody Center on the University of Texas campus. San Antonio built a commanding lead of up to 32 points, overpowering Phoenix in every phase of the game.
Additionally, the Suns were without Dillon Brooks due to a one-game suspension for accumulating 16 technical fouls earlier in the season. Brooks faces additional suspensions for future technicals, forcing the team to manage personnel carefully in a period when injuries and absences have severely tested their roster depth.
He’s good. He’s not going get anymore techs. We already talked to him about it. He’s done for the season with those.
— Oso Ighodaro, Suns Big
Coach Ott confessed the difficulty in managing the frustration during the game and expressed his wish to see the team healthy and united on the court.
I just want to see the guys play together, That’s it. That’s it and I probably didn’t handle it right in game when we get the news.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Jalen Green Emerges as a Positive Amid Adversity
Jalen Green provided a bright spot by delivering a career-high performance in his limited season with Phoenix. Playing 26 minutes—the most he has logged so far—Green scored a game-best 26 points on 11-of-23 shooting, including four three-pointers. His energy and endurance signaled progress after a hamstring injury sidelined him for much of the season.
Green has battled inconsistent availability after missing multiple games due to a right hamstring issue and a hip contusion sustained in late January. Despite those setbacks, he remains optimistic and showed confidence in his recovering legs during the Spurs game.
It’s the first time I’ve felt this good the entire season.
— Jalen Green, Suns Guard
Feel like I was able to attack the rim a little bit more, More misses than makes, but overall, just being able to trust my legs and attack.
— Jalen Green, Suns Guard
This game marked Green’s return to the starting lineup for the first time since early in the season after spending much of the time coming off the bench due to strategic minute management from the coaching staff. His chemistry with Booker remains limited, having shared the court for just 65 minutes across seven games.
Green expressed understanding regarding Booker’s injury, emphasizing a patient approach as he regains his rhythm.
It’s been tough, He started the year off playing every game and I was out the whole time. It’s only one game. He can take his time. By the time he gets back, I’ll have my rhythm. He’s already going to have his rhythm. DB coming back.
— Jalen Green, Suns Guard
With Allen and Booker sidelined, Green is likely to continue starting, but questions remain about roster adjustments if the Suns get back to full health. The competition for minutes between Green, Allen, Collin Gillespie, and Royce O’Neale could shape the lineup’s future configuration.
Maintaining Competitive Edge Despite Challenges
The Suns have shown resilience through injury difficulties all season, but their performance against the Spurs underscored struggles to maintain earlier defensive intensity. Phoenix ranks third in the NBA this season in forcing turnovers and converting those opportunities into points, but those numbers have dipped in February.
The team has dropped to 10th in forced turnovers and 25th in points off turnovers this month, reflecting a cooling of the aggressive defensive play that had defined their success.
Coach Ott and players acknowledge the need to recapture that disruptive energy to regain momentum and close out the regular season strong.
We wanted to use the break, everybody get healthy, but unfortunately, these things happen, especially in the game of basketball, All season has been up and down, guys in and out the lineup. Just keep going.
— Royce O’Neale, Suns Forward
New Addition Haywood Highsmith Joins While Cole Anthony’s Status Remains Uncertain
The Suns recently completed the signing of forward Haywood Highsmith, who has been rehabbing a meniscal tear suffered during offseason training. Highsmith has yet to play this season but demonstrated encouraging progress by dunking during a workout following the latest shootaround.
We’re excited to have him, Right now, he just continues to go through more testing with our group. Similar to everyone else, when they come into our group, we’ll have a plan. Get him back out there.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Meanwhile, Cole Anthony remains absent from the team roster with no definite update on his arrival. The Suns acquired Anthony and Amir Coffey in a three-team trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, but Anthony’s integration is still pending.
They’re still working through that.
— Jordan Ott, Head Coach
Implications for the Suns’ Season and Outlook
The Suns currently hold a 32-24 record but have lost five of their last seven games, reflecting the consequences of injuries to pivotal players like Booker, Allen, and Brooks. The Spurs, by contrast, continue their seven-game winning streak and remain competitive just 2.5 games behind the Western Conference leaders, the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
As Phoenix prepares to face the Orlando Magic at home on Saturday, February 21, the team must rely on emerging contributors such as Jalen Green and recently added Haywood Highsmith. How quickly Booker recovers and returns to form will play a critical role in determining the Suns’ push toward the playoffs.
The deepening injury concerns present a significant hurdle, but the Suns’ resolve and strategic adjustments under Coach Jordan Ott will be essential in navigating the remainder of the season and sustaining hopes for postseason success.
