PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns’ Alan Williams: I’m ready to play

Mar 26, 2018, 12:53 PM

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) steals the ball from Phoenix Suns forward Alan Wi...

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) steals the ball from Phoenix Suns forward Alan Williams (15) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 3, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX – There are only eight games left in the season and no one is looking more forward to those eight games than Phoenix Suns center Alan Williams.

These last two-and-half weeks are his 2017-18 season.

“I’m ready to play,” he said Monday.

And Williams will, according to interim head coach Jay Triano, who mentioned after shootaround that Williams will see minutes against the Boston Celtics.

The Suns are back home following a two-game road trip.

Tip-off with the Celtics from Talking Stick Resort Arena is 7 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Williams has missed all season up to this point after undergoing right knee surgery just prior to the start of training camp.

Last week, with the Suns on the road, Williams played three games with the team’s G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns.

“I got better every single day I was up there,” he said. “It was a good thing for me just to get some game reps in and go against guys who were trying to make it as well. It was good.”

Williams closed out his three-game stay with a double-double. He scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while adding three blocks in a 141-137 overtime win against Sioux Falls. Overall, Williams averaged 16.0 points on 46.8 percent shooting plus 9.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 23.4 minutes.

“It was fun,” he said. “It was good to be able to go out there and play some 5-on-5 action and miss some shots and get fouled and foul some guys and get upset sometimes. Those kind of emotions that you feel when you’re playing the game that can only be felt by playing actual game reps. It was awesome to get down there and do that.”

Williams will not have a minutes restriction. His minutes will be based on performance, Triano said. In other words, if Williams plays well, he’ll play more; if not, then he’ll find himself on the bench. It’s no different than how Triano has used any of his other players this season.

For Williams, all he’s wanted this season was to play, no matter how few games that might have meant.

“I want to get out there and play,” he said. “It’s been a long road back and I finally feel confident enough and ready enough to go out there and I think that I can help out. I want to play.”

Warren out, Booker questionable

Once again, the Suns will be without forward T.J. Warren and it’s likely guard Devin Booker will join Warren on the sidelines for the Celtics game.

Warren was not seen at shootaround. This will be the fourth straight game he’s missed due to left knee inflammation.

“I thought this was the game that he was targeting but I don’t know. This morning we were told he’s not going to play,” Triano said.

Meanwhile, Booker will go through his normal pregame routine before deciding if he’s going to give it a go. Booker continues to be bothered by a sprained right hand, which has made even the easy — catching and passing — difficult at times.

“It’s just one of those things that reinjuries,” he said. “You can get it caught on a blanket to just catching a ball. It’s kind of hard to deal with. It feels really good sometimes and I could just bump it just a little bit and it will feel bad again.”

Booker called himself “very questionable” to play. The injury has already cost him the last four games.

“Very hard,” he said about having to sit and watch his teammates. “One, because everyone thinks I’m faking it. They think we’re trying to tank but that’s not the case. I always pride myself on playing and playing through injuries (but) this isn’t one of those ones. I feel it reaggravates a lot.”

Who will be active?

With the NAZ Suns season finished, forwards Danuel House and Alec Peters have rejoined the Suns. They’re both available to play, though one of the two likely won’t be and therefore be ruled inactive should Booker be in uniform.

“I’ll have 13 active bodies tonight — that’s a start,” Triano said.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

15 hours ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

19 hours ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

22 hours ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: How the Suns lost to the Spurs before they stepped on the court

Burns & Gambo react to the Phoenix Suns stunning loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and try to figure out why it happened.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns’ Alan Williams: I’m ready to play