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Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green talks high school jersey retirement

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green described his emotions after his high school jersey retirement and offered an injury update.

The Phoenix Suns dropped a second straight game for the first time since their 1-4 start, falling to the Denver Nuggets, 130-112, on Saturday, Nov. 29, before a sellout crowd of 17,071 at Mortgage Matchup Center.

The game was the second of a back-to-back for both teams. 

Dillon Brooks paced the Suns (12-9) with 27 points, 19 of those coming in the first half. Devin Booker delivered 24 points and Royce O’Neale chipped in 15.

The Suns shot 14-of-42 from 3-point range while the Nuggets (14-5) went 22-of-38 from distance. Nikola Jokic posted a near triple-double of 26 points on 7-of-7 shooting, nine rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes.

Tim Hardaway Jr. went 7-of-11 from 3 in scoring 23 points off the bench, while Jamal Murray connected on 5-of-10 from 3 in scoring 24 points. Denver led by as many as 21 points.

Former Suns forward Cam Johnson added 15 points in helping the Nuggets improve to 2-0 versus Phoenix this season. Denver won the first matchup, 133-111, last month at Ball Arena.

Phoenix continues its 2025-26 season Dec. 1 on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Suns down 3 at half

The Suns trailed by as many as nine points in the first half and trailed the Denver Nuggets, 63-60, at the half.

The Nuggets walloped Phoenix in its first meeting, 133-111, last month in Denver. It’s a much closer game in the rematch.

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic has a team-high 18 points on 5-of-5 shooting. Nuggets are 10-of-16 on 3s as Tim Hardaway Jr. is 5-of-8 from deep. Jamal Murray added 13, shooting 3-of-5 from deep.

Dillon Brooks leads all scorers with 19 points as Phoenix is 9-of-21 from 3. Collin Gillespie is 4-of-7 on 3s in scoring 12 points.

Grayson Allen has added seven on 3-of-6 shooting (1-of-2 from 3) in his return after missing seven games with a right quad contusion.

The Suns have just five turnovers, which have led to only seven Denver points after committing 20 in 123-119 loss at Oklahoma City on Nov. 28. The Thunder scored 29 points off the turnovers.

Allen returns, in starting lineup

Grayson Allen (quad) and Jordan Goodwin (ankle) are both available for the game against Denver as Allen is returning to the starting lineup along with Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Royce O’Neale and Oso Ighodaro.

Allen missed seven games with the injury. Goodwin suffered his injury against Oklahoma City in the fourth quarter.

Nikola Jokic (wrist) and Bruce Bowen (knee) are both available as they were previously listed as questionable. The Nuggets are starting Jamal Murray, Cam Johnson, Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones and Jokic. Johnson played for the Suns from 2019 to 2023.

Injury update

The Suns have ruled Ryan Dunn (right wrist sprain) and Mark Williams (right calf soreness) out, but Jordan Ott said Jordan Goodwin (left ankle sprain and Grayson Allen (right quad contusion) are on track to return against the Nuggets.

Goodwin and Allen were listed as questionable on the initial injury report.

Jalen Green (right hamstring strain) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (right hip soreness) are also ruled out.

Goodwin suffered his injury in the fourth quarter of the game against the Thunder. Allen has missed seven straight games, while Dunn has been sidelined for four consecutive games.

Williams hasn’t played the second of a back-to-back this season in his first year with the Suns. He’s usually been out with right knee injury management when sitting second of a back-to-back. Ott said Williams’ knee is fine, but the calf was something that popped up during the game. Williams played just 22 minutes against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Livers sat out the Thunder game, while Green will be evaluated next month as he’s only played in two games this season in his first year in Phoenix.

Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic is listed as questionable for the Nuggets, as is Bruce Brown (right knee sprain). Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain), Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) and Julian Strawther (lower back injury management) have been ruled out.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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