PHOENIX SUNS

By the numbers: How injuries have hurt the Suns’ consistency

Mar 24, 2023, 2:38 PM

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts on the bench during the first half of the NBA game at F...

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns reacts on the bench during the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on February 16, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns have battled with a season-long injury issue that has been their kryptonite to having consistent success.

It’s so powerful that superman-like Kevin Durant was able to only play three games as a Sun before rolling his ankle while warming up for his Suns home debut.

Here are a few numbers that break down the Suns’ kryptonite, key injuries to starters that have spanned the season to this point, with 10 key games remaining.

153

Across the league, there are 30 NBA teams, and across those teams, there have been 153 five-player lineups than the Suns’ most used lineup with current Suns players.

That lineup is Chris Paul, Cam Payne, Devin Booker, Torrey Craig, Josh Okogie and Deandre Ayton with 13 games played together.

This lineup has a +13 net rating and most recently went 2-3 in five games in between the Durant injury on March 8 and Ayton being ruled out with a hip injury on March 19.

A lineup of Booker, Payne, Craig, Mikal Bridges and Ayton played 18 games together, which is the most-used five-player Suns lineup overall this season, but Mikal Bridges is now a Brooklyn Net.

72

Durant (13 games since joining Suns), Booker (27 games), Paul (21 games) and Ayton (11 games) have missed a combined 72 games this season.

Booker, Paul and Ayton have played 25 games together this season, which accounts for about 36% of the Suns’ total games this season.

The lineup of Booker, Paul and Ayton has a +5.2 net rating and the Suns are 14-11 when they are on the floor.

31

The Paul and Booker dynamic duo has been the core of the Suns since 2020-21, but they have been on the court together for only 31 games this season.

Booker went down with a groin injury on Christmas Day versus the Nuggets, and the Suns went 10-11 over the 21-game stretch that Booker was out for.

The Suns are 27-18 with Booker on the floor, 26-25 with Paul and 18-13 when Paul and Booker play together.

3

Three is the number that has likely come to mind for most Suns fans during this most recent stretch of games in which the Suns have lost five of their last six.

The trio of Durant, Paul and Booker only played three games together before Durant got hurt. With Durant joining Paul and Booker, the Suns went 3-0 and immediately showed the league its title-contending potential.

In a small sample-size of 63 minutes played together, the three superstars put up a 133.1 offensive rating and a 100 defensive rating that led to wins over the Hornets (105-91), Bulls (125-104) and a nail-biter on the road over the Kyrie Irving-Luka Doncic-led Mavericks (130-126).

At this point, there may still be more questions than answers, but with Durant expected to come back next week, the answer to how far this trio can go could be coming soon.

Phoenix Suns

Mat Ishbia at a game...

Arizona Sports

36 unbothered: Mat Ishbia’s first full season as Suns owner

What will we see from the Phoenix Suns over a full season with Mat Ishbia as the owner of the team?

21 hours ago

Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns high fives Devin Booker #1 after scoring against the Denver Nu...

Arizona Sports

36 unbothered: How Suns’ new Big 3 needs to develop chemistry

The Phoenix Suns' Big 3 is the best in basketball but Bradley Beal, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant will need to establish continuity.

2 days ago

Bradley Beal, Suns introduction...

Arizona Sports

36 unbothered: What Bradley Beal has to prove with Suns

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal arrives to the Valley with lots to prove despite how much he has accomplished in the NBA.

3 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Phoenix Suns could look into trade for Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic with Deandre Ayton, Gambo reports

Phoenix Suns could look into trade for Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic with Deandre Ayton, Gambo reports. Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images

4 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Damian Lillard is expected to get traded within the next 24 hours Gambo reports

Damian Lillard is expected to get traded within the next 24 hours Gambo reports. Video: Felisa Cárdenas and Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports

4 days ago

Deandre Ayton #22 of the Phoenix Suns defends Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers during...

Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns could look into trade for Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic with Deandre Ayton

While the Phoenix Suns' intention all summer was to not trade Deandre Ayton, an imminent Damian Lillard trade could make Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic available, something that could interest the Suns, according to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro.

4 days ago

By the numbers: How injuries have hurt the Suns’ consistency