The Phoenix Suns head to Brooklyn with a chance to keep their momentum rolling, and the final pregame note is a welcome one: they are trending toward full strength. The Suns visit the Nets on Monday, January 19, with tip set for 5:30 PM (MST/ET) at Barclays Center on the front end of a back-to-back. Phoenix, 25-17 and sitting atop the Pacific Division, opens as an 8.5-point favorite over a Nets team that has struggled to a 12-28 mark.

The story to watch is the backcourt. Devin Booker and Jalen Green are both listed as QUESTIONABLE as of Sunday’s update. Booker is dealing with left ankle soreness from a sprain suffered against Miami, while Green is pushing toward his long-awaited return from a right hamstring strain that has sidelined him for more than two months.

Final Suns injury report: Booker and Green questionable

Booker missed the Jan. 15 meeting with Detroit, then returned Jan. 17 at Madison Square Garden and dropped 27 points on 18 shots in a 106-99 win over the Knicks. He logged north of 38 minutes, a strong sign the ankle responded well. Phoenix has won 10 of its last 14, and Booker’s availability is the bellwether of how they operate late in games.

On the season, Booker’s averages vary by source but land in the same neighborhood: between 20.6–25.3 points, 3.0–4.1 rebounds, and 4.9–6.4 assists per game on roughly 45.2% shooting and near 30.1% from three. The exact line depends on reporting cutoffs, but the meaning is simple—he drives the Suns’ offense.

Green, meanwhile, has been the biggest missing piece. He has appeared in just one game all season. His teammates have felt the void—and the anticipation. “I’m happy for him. I’m excited for him,” Booker said. “Nobody wants to miss time… I know he’s itching to get out there.” Booker added, “We miss Jalen… He’s been licking his chops getting ready for this moment. I think we’ve overdone it with keeping him out. He’s going to be healthy and strong and ready to go.”

Beyond the headliners, Phoenix has a few more notes: guard Jamaree Bouyea remains in the concussion protocol after entering it on Jan. 13 and has been listed as out or questionable across reports; Nigel Hayes-Davis is questionable with a right ankle sprain; and combo guard Jordan Goodwin is available, playing through a jaw sprain with a protective mask.

“If Green is truly ready, this offense goes up a gear overnight.”

Brooklyn Nets injury update: MPJ expected back

Brooklyn comes in off a 124-102 defeat to the Bulls. The Nets rested Michael Porter Jr. in that one and fell to 0-8 without him this season. All signs point to him suiting up here, a critical boost for a roster that sits 24th in defensive rating and needs Porter’s elite spacing.

Porter has been one of the league’s top long-range weapons this year, averaging 3.8 made threes per game, a top-five mark in the NBA. His presence bends defenses and could test a Suns group that thrives on turnovers and early offense.

Injuries for Brooklyn as of Sunday include: Egor Demin (left foot/plantar fascia) questionable, Drake Powell (knee) questionable, Ziaire Williams (illness) out, Haywood Highsmith (knee) out, and Ben Saraf (illness) out.

“If MPJ gets going from deep, Phoenix can’t let this become a three-point math game.”

Suns vs. Nets by the numbers: form, pace, and pressure

The line favors Phoenix by 8.5 for good reason. The Suns are finding a rhythm: they’ve surged on a 10-4 stretch and sit at 25-17 overall. Their defense has sharpened too, tied for the league lead at 10.5 steals per game. That activity fuels easy points and supports an offense that has hovered around 116.0 points per game in the early going.

Even without Green, the Suns have managed a 23-17 record, which makes their ceiling with a full backcourt worth watching. The leadership group is clear: Booker paces the scoring, big man Mark Williams leads the glass (roughly 7.1–7.3 rebounds per game), and guard Collin Gillespie organizes (around 4.7–4.8 assists per game). That spine gives Phoenix a steady base on both ends.

Brooklyn’s challenge is two-fold: stop the ball against Booker-led actions and keep up with Phoenix’s handsiness on defense. The Nets’ 24th-ranked defensive rating shows how hard that has been. When Porter plays, the offense gains lift—catch-and-shoot looks, trail threes, and gravity that opens driving lanes. When he sits, the attack often stalls, as the 0-8 record without him makes clear.

“This feels like a trap only if Phoenix loses the turnover battle.”

Keys to the matchup: turnovers, threes, and the back-to-back

Three simple keys stand out:

• Ball pressure vs. spacing: The Suns’ steals can flip this game early. If they force live-ball turnovers, they will run. The Nets must value the ball and use Porter’s shooting to create safer reads.
• Booker’s burst: If his ankle lets him change pace and get into his mid-range, Brooklyn will have to send help. That opens corner threes and short-roll touches for Williams.
• Green’s minutes (if active): Even 15–20 controlled minutes from Green can stress a defense not named to stop two primary scorers. Phoenix will be careful on the front end of a back-to-back, but his return—if it happens—changes the math.

One more factor: rebounding. Williams must hold the line on the defensive glass to keep the Nets out of second-chance threes. On the other end, Phoenix’s guards need to crash selectively; quick outlets will be there if Brooklyn sends extra to the glass.

Odds, context, and what it means

Phoenix is favored by 8.5 because of health trending up, recent form, and a defensive edge that travels. The Nets’ path is clear: protect the ball, ride Porter’s shooting, and hope Phoenix’s back-to-back management keeps the Suns from pressing the gas for 48 minutes.

For the Suns, this is about stacking wins and building toward a fully armed rotation. Booker looks ready. Green is close. With both available, Phoenix’s ceiling jumps. With only Booker, the Suns still have enough to handle business if they defend without fouling and win the turnover battle.

The table is set for Monday at Barclays Center. If the Suns continue to fly around on defense and Booker’s ankle holds steady, they will look every bit like the team that has climbed to the top of the Pacific. If the Nets get a hot Porter night and avoid live-ball mistakes, they can make it interesting. Either way, the final injury report tells the story: Phoenix is almost whole—and that makes the West take notice.