All eyes turn to the Valley tonight as the Phoenix Suns host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a true litmus test. It’s a rematch with a bite. Cleveland controlled the first meeting on Dec. 31, 129-113. Phoenix now gets the return shot at home, but must do it without Devin Booker and on tired legs from a back-to-back. The Cavs, meanwhile, open a five-game road swing missing three core starters. It’s a clash of resilience, next-man-up trust, and a little revenge.

Rematch stakes in Phoenix

The first meeting wasn’t close by the end. Cleveland’s late surge turned a tight game into a 16-point win. That matters because it showed how the Cavs can bend a contest to their pace even without a full roster. Phoenix carries a 29-19 record (6-4 in its last 10), while Cleveland stands at 29-20 and red-hot at 8-2 over its last 10. The gap in form is small, but the Cavs’ recent run includes a win over the Lakers and five straight overall.

As one preview nicely put it, “The NBA doesn’t hand out style points for surviving a back-to-back, but it does reveal something more valuable, which is stability and trust within the game plan.” That’s exactly what this night asks of both benches.

Who’s in, who’s out: Final injury report

The headliner for Phoenix is good news: Jalen Green is off the injury report and available after missing three games with right hamstring tightness. His MRI showed no new damage, and he’s “in a good place,” head coach Jordan Ott said. Expect a managed ramp-up. “Me personally, I’d love to see him out there,” Ott added. “He’s got to feel good and that’s what we want. We want to be safe with this thing.”

The bad news is also clear: Devin Booker remains out with a right ankle sprain. That puts more playmaking and shot creation on Green, Dillon Brooks, and the Suns’ guards and wings.

Cleveland is missing size and shot creation. Evan Mobley (left calf), Darius Garland (right great toe/foot), and Max Strus (left foot surgery) are all out. That puts an even bigger load on Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen, plus spacing help from shooters like Sam Merrill.

“If Green’s back and Brooks is hot, Phoenix can flip the script fast.”

Jalen Green’s return: What to watch

Green’s return isn’t just a body back; it’s a pressure valve. Without Booker, Phoenix needs a downhill threat who can force help and get to the line. A minutes limit is likely, but even 20–25 sharp minutes can swing bench-versus-bench stretches. Ott’s cautious tone suggests the Suns won’t push him too hard early; they’ll want him strong for the stretch run.

Over his last 20 games, Green has averaged 20.2 points. That steady output, paired with improved off-ball cutting, fits neatly next to shooters like Grayson Allen and wings like Royce O’Neale.

Back-to-back reality: Suns’ energy and Brooks’ heater

Phoenix is coming off a win over the Pistons, a night grabbed by Dillon Brooks’ career-high 40 points. That scoring pop matters, because on a back-to-back, shot-making can carry you through heavy legs. If Brooks finds rhythm again, Phoenix can weather cold spells and simple half-court sets.

The key is defense first. The Suns’ Defensive Rating is 113.1 (7th), better than their offense to date. Rotations must stay tight around the arc against Cleveland’s shooters and Mitchell’s pull-up threes.

“Mitchell vs. Brooks feels like the hinge — who blinks first?”

Cavaliers’ form: Mitchell’s load and Allen’s anchor

With Garland and Strus out, the Cavs lean on Donovan Mitchell, who’s averaged 26.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists over his last 20 games. He sets the tone. When he gets two feet into the paint, kick-out threes open for Sam Merrill and Dean Wade. If Phoenix contains the first action, Cleveland must hit tough shots late in the clock.

In the middle, Jarrett Allen is the rim anchor. His screening and rolls are simple but strong. He compresses defenses and creates short-roll playmaking lanes.

Matchups and tactical keys

• Point of attack: How Phoenix handles Mitchell at the top decides a lot. Expect early traps or drops with quick weak-side digs. Don’t let him walk into rhythm.
• Suns’ spacing: With Booker out, every lane matters. Grayson Allen’s off-ball gravity, O’Neale’s corner threes, and Brooks’ drives must stretch Cleveland’s shell.
• Glass battle: Without Mobley, the Cavs still rebound well with Allen. Phoenix must carve out space and keep second chances low.
• Bench minutes: Green’s return helps Phoenix’s stagger. Cleveland’s second unit must survive when Mitchell sits; that’s a pressure window for the Suns.

“If Phoenix wins the non-Mitchell minutes, they win the night.”

Projected starters and rotations

Reports suggest Cleveland could start Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, and Jarrett Allen. For Phoenix, reports vary, but the core mix includes Jordan Goodwin, Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, Mark Williams, with Dillon Brooks expected to carry a heavy load again. Lineups may shift as coaches manage minutes and the back-to-back.

What the numbers say

The Cavs bring a balanced profile: Offensive Rating 117.5 (9th), Defensive Rating 114.1 (11th), and a +3.5 Net Rating (9th). Even short-handed, that backbone travels. Their 8-2 run shows how their system holds up.

Phoenix is not far behind on paper: Offensive Rating 115.8 (15th), Defensive Rating 113.1 (7th), Net +2.7 (11th). The Suns’ defense has been the steadier side, and with Brooks surging and Green back, the offense can catch up quickly.

Individually, Mitchell is the top form scorer in this matchup over the last 20 games. For the Suns, Devin Booker’s 20.2 points over that span won’t be on the floor, so Brooks (also at 20.2 points over his last 20) becomes the key scorer by necessity.

Coaching notes and game flow

For Phoenix, Jordan Ott’s words underline the plan: trust, patience, and health first for Green. Expect a simple playbook: early drives, kick-outs, and quick-hitting actions that don’t tax legs on the back-to-back. Defensively, the Suns will try to make someone besides Mitchell beat them.

For Cleveland, pace control is key. With a shortened rotation, they’ll want to avoid a track meet, lean on Allen’s screens, and hunt mismatches for Mitchell. If Merrill and Wade space well, the Cavs can create just enough runway for their star.

The bottom line

Both teams are short-handed, and both have clear paths to a win. Phoenix has the rest disadvantage, but it has home court, a defense that’s been sharp, and a red-hot Brooks now joined by a returning Green. Cleveland has continuity, a strong net rating, and an All-NBA engine in Mitchell.

This should be tight and physical, with the outcome swinging on shooting variance and second-chance points. If Phoenix controls the non-Mitchell minutes and keeps turnovers low, revenge is on the table. If Mitchell dictates pace and Allen owns the paint, Cleveland’s streak can keep climbing on night one of the road trip.