PHOENIX SUNS

Dario Saric, Abdel Nader ruled out for Suns game against Kings

Dec 26, 2020, 11:18 AM

Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric (20) drives around Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) during t...

Phoenix Suns forward Dario Saric (20) drives around Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

Injuries will keep two Phoenix Suns players sidelined against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, according to Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson.

Forward/center Dario Saric will miss another game due to right quad soreness while small forward Abdel Nader remains in concussion protocol after suffering a fall against the Utah Jazz in the preseason.

Both missed the season opener Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks, and Saric missed all three preseason games.

Saric said Monday that he thought he would miss one more full week, which suggests he doesn’t expect to be ready for the Sunday game against the Kings, either.

The projected backup center’s absence was felt Wednesday when Phoenix’s bigs got into early foul trouble. Starting center Deandre Ayton and backup Damian Jones committed three fouls apiece in the first quarter, which led to an early entry for rookie big Jalen Smith.

Ayton played only 24 minutes due to foul trouble and Jones finished with five fouls in eight minutes of play.

Smith, the No. 10 pick in the draft, played for 16 minutes in his debut. He had a quick foul in the first quarter but did not pick up a second.

The Suns (1-0) tip off against the Kings (1-0) at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The teams will get a rematch Sunday night at 7 p.m.

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

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant from USA Basketball in the Tokyo Olympics...

Arizona Sports

Report: Suns’ Devin Booker, Kevin Durant on finalized Team USA Olympic roster

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant are part of the finalized Team USA roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

10 hours ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball against Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwol...

Kellan Olson

Will Suns continue to be Timberwolves’ kryptonite in the playoffs?

The Phoenix Suns were a mismatch for the T-Wolves in the regular season. Will that remain the case in the first round of the NBA Playoffs?

11 hours ago

Kevin Durant and Anthony Edwards...

Arizona Sports

Schedule as we know it: Suns face Timberwolves in 1st round starting Saturday

The No. 6 seed Phoenix Suns will travel to meet the No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

17 hours ago

Grayson Allen of the Phoenix Suns...

Kevin Zimmerman

Grayson Allen agrees to sign 4-year contract extension with Suns

Grayson Allen and the Suns agreed to a four-year, $70 million contract extension Monday after the guard's first regular season in Phoenix.

19 hours ago

Kevin Young, Houston Rockets...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Kevin Young reportedly a finalist for Brooklyn Nets head coaching job

Phoenix Suns associate head coach Kevin Young is one of three finalists for the Nets' head coaching vacancy, according to Shams Charania. 

1 day ago

Bradley Beal's teammates celebrated with him during a postgame interview after Sunday's win. (AZ Fa...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Bradley Beal barked at, gets water poured on after huge performance in win over Wolves

Bradley Beal was the man of the hour on Sunday after leading the Suns to a massive 125-106 win over the Timberwolves at Target Center.

1 day ago

Dario Saric, Abdel Nader ruled out for Suns game against Kings