Antetokounmpo suspended, other key injury report listings for Suns’ last shot

There’s a lot going on for the Phoenix Suns on Thursday besides a must-win game against the Dallas Mavericks.

A loss for the Memphis Grizzlies or Portland Trail Blazers means a Suns victory has them making the play-in.

The Grizzlies play the Milwaukee Bucks at 1 p.m., the same time as the Suns’ matchup with Dallas.

The Bucks clinched the league’s number one overall seed, so the expectation is for them to rest key players. It doesn’t help that MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is suspended for the game after headbutting Washington’s Moe Wagner on Tuesday.

According to the league’s latest injury report updates Thursday morning, guard Wes Matthews, forward Ersan Ilyasova and guard George Hill are all out and the only Bucks listed. The key thing to note here is that a player resting must be down on the injury report, so Milwaukee appears to not be resting anyone as of the league’s last injury report of Wednesday.

Now, Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer could still put guys like Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton on minute restrictions, so we’ll see.

The Mavericks, the Suns’ opponent, also have nothing to play for having locked up the seventh seed.

Their injury report had center Kristaps Porzingis (knee) as doubtful before head coach Rick Carlisle said he’s out. Guard Seth Curry, wing Dorian Finney-Smith and big man Maxi Kleber are probable. No players are listed as out for rest, including Luka Doncic.

As for Portland, there are not any notable injuries to list for them or their opposition, the Brooklyn Nets. That game starts at 6 p.m.

The Suns’ injury report included the addition of forward Cam Johnson for tendinopathy in his left patella. He is probable. Kelly Oubre Jr.’s status still hasn’t changed from doubtful, while center Aron Baynes and guard Elie Okobo are not on the injury report after being questionable on Tuesday.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro is reporting Baynes could be available.

Phoenix Suns Center Aron Baynes is available for tomorrow's game against the Mavericks as of now. He probably won't play because the Suns have been in such a good rhythm and they may not want to mess with the continuity. I would guess only if the bigs get in foul trouble.

— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) August 12, 2020

You can hear the Suns’ final seeding game on Arizona Sports, with coverage of the team all day leading up to the game, starting with Doug & Wolf at 6 a.m. during “Suns Day.”

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