<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-grayson-allen-gets-breakout-year-stamp-approval-new-gm');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen gets ‘breakout year’ stamp of approval from new Suns GM');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Suns-guard-Grayson-Allen.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grayson Allen gets ‘breakout year’ stamp of approval from new Suns GM</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-24T12:09:16-07:00">September 24th, 12:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-24T12:09:16-07:00">September 24th, 12:09pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After Phoenix Suns <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-mat-ishbia-doubles-down-promise-phoenix-fans">owner Mat Ishbia vowed to make games accessible</a>, the Suns’ new GM, Brian Gregory, has high expectations for veteran guard Grayson Allen. Shortly after his front office promotion from vice president of player programming to GM, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-brian-gregory-100-rockets-kevin-durant-trade">Gregory traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets</a>. The historic blockbuster move, the first seven-team trade in NBA history, signaled the end of the Suns’ superteam era.</p><p>Bradley Beal reached a buyout before signing with the Los Angeles Clippers, and All-Star Devin Booker agreed to a whopping two-year, $145 million extension. With Booker reprising his role as the focal point of the Suns’ offense, Allen will most likely take on an increased role, as Gregory is <a href="https://x.com/Espo/status/1970906762019828024" rel="noopener">anticipating a big season</a>, he said, per PHNX Sports.</p><p>“He’s going to have a breakout year,” Gregory said. “He’s had as good a summer as anyone.”</p><p>From 33.5 to 24.1 minutes per game, Allen’s usage rate decreased significantly last season, after averaging career bests in points (13.5) and 3-point percentage (46.1%) in 2023-24. Grayson’s offensive production is expected to return to its former level in 2025-26, or possibly even better, as Gregory’s allusion to Allen’s breakout year is likely to be a case in point.</p><h2><b>Brian Gregory looking forward to Suns’ new era</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Suns-GM-Brian-Gregory.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After trading All-Star Kevin Durant to the Rockets, Suns GM Brian Gregory emphasized that the pieces coming back in return would put his team on the right path to improve from a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. The Suns received Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft — Khaman Maluach — various second-round picks, and more.</p><p>Gregory says he felt like trading Durant for <a href="https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1942407987693511067" rel="noopener">the package in return</a> was worth the haul.</p><p>“Our biggest thing was to find a way to bring in the valuable pieces that would help us continue to move forward in the right direction…So the team got together at the end and felt pretty good about what transpired,” Gregory said.</p><p>The Suns also addressed the center position in a trade with the Hornets for Mark Williams. While getting ready for a new era of Suns basketball, fans will get a firsthand look at the Green and Booker combination this upcoming season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen gets ‘breakout year’ stamp of approval from new Suns GM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-grayson-allen-true-feelings-mike-budenholzer-future');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen shares true feelings about Mike Budenholzer’s future with Suns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Suns-news-Grayson-Allen-shares-true-feelings-about-Mike-Budenholzers-future-with-Phoenix.jpg"></figure><h1>Grayson Allen shares true feelings about Mike Budenholzer’s future with Suns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-14T07:04:04-07:00">April 14th, 7:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-14T07:04:04-07:00">April 14th, 7:04am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For all of the uncertainties and unknowns, Phoenix Suns guard <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-grayson-allen-blunt-take-mike-budenholzer-first-season">Grayson Allen remains grateful for his head coach, Mike Budenholzer</a>.</p><p>The duo were together with the Milwaukee Bucks in his final two seasons. In the 2024 offseason, Budenholzer and Allen reunited and brought with them, their chemistry.</p><p>Following Sunday’s 109-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings, Allen explained via AZCentral’s Duane Rankin his <a href="https://x.com/DuaneRankin/status/1911559150133453071" rel="noopener">true feelings</a> about the first-year head coach.</p><p>“I know he’s a winning coach,” Allen said. “I know he’s had great success in the past. This obviously wasn’t a very good year, but for him, having a bunch of great years, one year doesn’t really define him as a coach.</p><p>“It’s tough. All those decisions are above me. I can’t think about that.”</p><p>Management will make the majority of the decisions this offseason, or all of them. After Suns owner Mat Ishbia is ready for any move, one might involve firing the head coach.</p><p>After all, Budenholzer has been rumored to be fired after the regular season concluded. While it hasn’t happened as of writing this, the writing might be on the wall.</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen wants the Suns to run it back with Mike Budenholzer</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Grayson-Allen-dribbling.jpg"><figcaption>© John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Although Allen’s opinion is strong, and one of importance, two significant moves in the NBA might alter the Suns’ way of thinking.</p><p>Both Taylor Jenkins and Michael Malone were shockingly fired by their respective teams. They were two of the top coaches in the Western Conference, and both led their teams to playoff spots.</p><p>However, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-rumors-mike-budenholzer-danger-1-and-done-season">Budenholzer might be another one-and-done head coach for the Suns</a>. It would spark the third head coach that the Suns would’ve gone through, in a matter of years.</p><p>Still, there is support to justify keeping the former NBA champion.</p><p>When he started with the Atlanta Hawks, he had a similar record in his first season (38-44). Then, the Hawks went to the Eastern Conference Finals one season and even had four all-stars on the roster.</p><p>There’s no coincidence that the success is there.</p><p>Once Budenholzer went to the Bucks, the head coach had immediate success. So much so that within his third season, he won the 2021 NBA Finals with a stacked roster.</p><p>Like his colleagues, he was <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/bucks-part-ways-coach-mike-budenholzer" rel="noopener">abruptly fired</a> after an upset playoff loss to the Miami Heat.</p><p>He took a year off of coaching and ended up joining the Suns in the 2024 offseason. Although he had an offseason to prepare, the league advanced greatly in one season.</p><p>More of the former video coordinator and analytics gurus became head coaches, and have taken the league by storm. Budenholzer could likely be playing catch-up with the rest of the league.</p><p>No matter what happens, Allen’s public endorsement of the head coach might not be enough. Still, it would mark a handful of the players on the Suns roster who have advocated for the head coach to stay.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen shares true feelings about Mike Budenholzer’s future with Suns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/phoenix-suns/suns-news-grayson-allen-blunt-take-mike-budenholzer-first-season');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen issues blunt take on Mike Budenholzer’s first season with Suns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Phoenix-Suns-coach-Mike-Budenholzer-instructs-team.jpg"><figcaption>© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grayson Allen issues blunt take on Mike Budenholzer’s first season with Suns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-08T13:39:30-07:00">April 8th, 1:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-08T13:40:03-07:00">April 8th, 1:40pm</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns have had a tough season. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer has taken criticism as the losses have piled up. Phoenix player Grayson Allen is <a href="https://x.com/DuaneRankin/status/1909673205629137313" rel="noopener">commenting about the team’s performance</a>, amidst a 35-43 campaign.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"It's hard to say. It's easy to judge based off a win-loss record, but I think there's a lot more that goes into it than that."</p><p>Grayson Allen on how Mike Budenholzer has done as Suns head coach. 35-43 first season in Phoenix.</p><p>"I know that where our record is at right now, he's… <a href="https://t.co/n2APYQwden">pic.twitter.com/n2APYQwden</a></p><p>— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href="https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1909673205629137313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“I know that where our record is at right now, he’s obviously not happy with and I don’t think anybody in this organization is happy with it. It’s hard to look at the big picture right now,” Allen said about his coach, per AZ Central.</p><p>Allen does believe that the coach is doing what he can to change things. It has been a hard stretch for the club. The Suns have lost six in a row.</p><p>“It’s hard to say. It’s easy to judge based off a win-loss record, but I think there’s a lot more that goes into it than that,” Allen added.</p><p>Phoenix has had a dismal time playing on the road. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/suns-news-devin-booker-somber-admission-1st-losing-season-5-years">The Suns are 12-28 away from the desert</a>. The club is also 4-6 in their last 10 games, as the season comes near an end.</p><p>“The last game, we did a ton of things well, we just didn’t make open shots,” Allen said. Phoenix dropped their last contest to the New York Knicks, 112-98.</p><h2><b>Mike Budenholzer has struggled with the Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tyus-Jones-and-Mike-Budenholzer.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There were high expectations for Budenholzer at the beginning of the season. The Suns head coach came to the desert after lots of success at his previous stop in Milwaukee. He won a NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021.</p><p>In Milwaukee, the coach worked with Allen for two seasons. It seemed to be a good marriage, as Allen averaged double figures in scoring both of those years in 2022 and 2023.</p><p>Before Milwaukee, the coach had some success in Atlanta with the Hawks. Budenholzer led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015.</p><p>Due to all that background, the Suns thought they were getting a slam dunk hire in the coach. Phoenix has threatened in the Western Conference for several years with Kevin Durant, but the club always seems to come up short in the playoffs.</p><p>This season, the team won’t even make the playoffs. Phoenix is guaranteed a losing record as the season winds down. It is rumored that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/mavericks-trade-proposal-reunites-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving">Kevin Durant may not return to the Suns</a>. It seems that Budenholzer may not either, if some Suns fans have their way.</p><p>The Suns next play the Golden State Warriors Tuesday. Golden State enters the contest with a 46-32 record.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen issues blunt take on Mike Budenholzer’s first season with Suns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allen-heroic-3-pointer-win-vs-jazz');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Grayson Allen details heroic 3-pointer in win vs Jazz');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Grayson-Allen-details-heroic-3-pointer-in-win-vs-Jazz.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Grayson Allen details heroic 3-pointer in win vs Jazz</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-02-08T15:17:40-08:00">February 8th, 3:17pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-02-08T15:19:32-08:00">February 8th, 3:19pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Mini-Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With 0.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter, fans exited the arena, but it was <a href="https://x.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1888096410190626872" rel="noopener">more than enough time</a> for Grayson Allen to hit a 3-pointer that sent the Phoenix Suns to overtime. After the Utah Jazz went on a 22-5 in the final quarter, Allen’s heroics injected a jolt of life into the team and the fanbase.</p><p>Although some were uncertain if the shot would fall, Allen <a href="https://x.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1888111769752870977" rel="noopener">knew it before anyone else</a>.</p><p>“It felt good right when I shot it, and it was online too, so I knew it had a chance as soon as it left my hands,” Allen said postgame to reporters. He also added what Royce O’Neale told him before inbounding the ball to him.</p><p>“Just run to this spot, I’m gonna throw it right there, and knock it down.”</p><p>For Allen, he posted 21 points and seven connections from 3-point range. In his first start this season, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-mike-budenholzer-kevin-durant-grayson-allen-first-start-warriors">Allen impressed Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer</a> with his performance. With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal both out, it was more of the same. The 21 points were the second-highest on the team, only behind Devin Booker’s 47-point outburst.</p><p>Still, Allen’s designed play was ran once in training camp. Regardless, he made the shot anyway. In addition to the shot feeling good, Allen detailed step-by-step the process of how the play was designed.</p><p>“In that situation, since it’s a skip pass, it feels like there’s a lot of time of the ball in the air before you could see your hands,” Allen said. “I’m covering so much ground across the 3-point line. First off, you’re trying to check his feet behind the line. Once you catch it, for a righty going to the right, you kind of feel a little freer that the guy’s not to block it.</p><p>“Just get the shot off and trust it, but going that way, I just say make sure you’re behind the line and get that right shoulder.”</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen’s 3-pointer was the Suns’ X-factor</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Grayson.jpg"><figcaption>© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>That shot was the momentum boost that the team needed. Heading into overtime, they were dominated 60-30 by the Jazz for points in the paint. Even with the horrendous metric, a win is a win. However, this is his first major time in the bright lights since joining the NBA. Although <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-phoenixs-clear-x-factor-emerges-after-defeating-wizards">Allen was the Suns’ X-factor</a> in a win against the Washington Wizards, this time, it’s more impactful.</p><p>In his second season with the Suns, he’s made history. He has the most games in franchise history with 7+ made 3-pointers, passing Raja Bell, who had 8. When asked about that metric, he decided to spread the love to Phoenix’s Big 3.</p><p>“I do think that playing with Brad, Kevin, and Devin has brought out the best in me as a basketball player,” Allen said. “I think someone said that they don’t do that to their teammates, but I think I’m a very clear example that they do.”</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen should relish in the moment</b></h2><p>Allen is a selfless player, and one who players want to play with, but don’t like to play against. As a result, it’s made him a fan-favorite in The Valley. The microwave scorer can get hot very quickly, as evidenced by Friday’s win. Up until that game, he never had an NBA buzzer-beater.</p><p>After only posting one fourth-quarter buzzer beater in college, he’s now matched the number. When the lights are brightest, it’s when Allen relishes in the moment.</p><p>“For sure,” Allen said. “I don’t know if I have an NBA fourth-quarter buzzer-beater yet. That might be my first. But yeah, I mean, everyone loves to be in that moment. You get the final shot of the game, and the chance to, in this case, put in overtime, sometimes win the game.</p><p>“That’s one of those things that I’ve done a thousand times in the driveway counting down in my head when I was a kid. So, it’s awesome to be able to do it.”</p><p>The Suns will likely need more of Allen’s heroics, as they play the Denver Nuggets on a back-to-back set. If Durant and Beal are still out, he’ll have another chance to show his 3-point accuracy.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Grayson Allen details heroic 3-pointer in win vs Jazz

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/grayson-allen-leaves-suns-game-vs-hornets-with-knee-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen leaves Suns game vs Hornets with knee injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Suns-news-Grayson-Allen-leaves-game-vs-Hornets-with-knee-injury.jpg"></figure><h1>Grayson Allen leaves Suns game vs Hornets with knee injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-12T19:56:18-08:00">January 12th, 7:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-12T20:01:25-08:00">January 12th, 8:01pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns have been plagued with the injury bug, this time with shooting guard Grayson Allen. The <a href="https://x.com/Amanda_Pflugrad/status/1878644495455313975" rel="noopener">sharpshooter was ruled out</a> of Sunday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets with left knee soreness, according to Suns sideline reporter, Amanda Pflugrad. Following 13 points in the first half, Phoenix will be without their microwave scorer.</p><p>His injury’s cause is unknown. However, he did hit a three-point shot that resulted in an “and-one” opportunity. Allen was roughly knocked to the floor while taking the shot. He and Bradley Beal were leading the bench unit. There was a 29-13 discrepancy between the Suns and Hornets bench at the end of the first half.</p><p>Despite coming off the bench this season, there’s been plenty of upside. After all, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-mike-budenholzer-kevin-durant-grayson-allen-first-start-warriors">Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer and Kevin Durant highlighted Allen’s first start</a> of the season. When he has minutes and the green light to shoot, he’s been extremely efficient.</p><p>On the season, Allen is shooting 40.8% from three. That metric was before Sunday’s game, which is set to increase it. The range on those shots has been extraordinary as well. Many times, Hornets defenders were leaving him open out of a double team on Durant.</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen’s injury leaves a hole for Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Grayson-Allen.jpg"><figcaption>© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As a result, Allen knocked down the shots with ease. Much of his confidence has blossomed since the new year. His number has been called upon much more and the Phoenix fanbase is with it. After all, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-phoenix-grayson-allen-70-million-contract-extension-playoffs">Allen signed a $70 million extension before the 2024 playoffs</a>.</p><p>The team trusts him as a key rotational piece. He shot a league-best 46.1% from beyond the arc last season. Although the number has dropped, his role has changed. He’s been more of a spot shooter in his second season in Phoenix. Playing off of Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker can be a bit tough.</p><p>Still, he’s adjusted to the role nicely. In Budenholzer’s system, he’s <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allengr01.html" rel="noopener">shooting 5.8 threes per game</a> in only 24 minutes. They’ll miss the consistency he provides off the bench on the perimeter. As of writing this, there’s no update on the severity of his injury. Also, there’s no timetable for his return.</p><p>Now, Phoenix will add another player to the injury report. The next game they play is on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. That will begin a five-game road trip for the team. Allen might or might not be with the team on the trip. After all, Devin Booker missed some road games while dealing with a groin injury.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen leaves Suns game vs Hornets with knee injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-mike-budenholzer-kevin-durant-grayson-allen-first-start-warriors');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Mike Budenholzer, Kevin Durant highlight Grayson Allen’s first start vs. Warriors');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Suns-news-Mike-Budenholzer-Kevin-Durant-highlight-Grayson-Allen-s-offensive-approach-after-first-start-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Mike Budenholzer, Kevin Durant highlight Grayson Allen’s first start vs. Warriors</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-03T04:38:05-08:00">December 3rd, 4:38am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-03T04:53:32-08:00">December 3rd, 4:53am</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>First impressions are critical, regardless of who it is. For the Phoenix Suns and Grayson Allen, his first start attracted praise from head coach Mike Budenholzer, and all-star Kevin Durant. After Saturday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, Budenholzer spoke to reporters and explained how Allen stepped up to the plate and had the fundamentals working.</p><p>“He looked like he was in a good rhythm,” Allen said. “He had some good looks, got it to go in, and looked comfortable. When he’s shooting it, playing, and attacking, I think his attack game is a little underrated, he gets to the free-throw line. I think mixing him in with the starters tonight was good.”</p><p>Durant started alongside Allen for the first time this season. In the game, he posted 17 points, and shot 50% from the field and three. While Allen has started multiple times before under Budenholzer, this marked his first start since the head coach came to Phoenix. His confidence was on full display, as he had his <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allengr01/gamelog/2025" rel="noopener">second-highest point total</a> of this season. </p><p>Not to mention, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-tyus-jones-major-factor-join-suns">Allen was the reason Tyus Jones joined the Suns</a>. His contributions to winning basketball attract great players. Although his statistics have taken a dip, he’s had a reduced role. Also, Allen said during Phoenix’s media day that he was willing to come off the bench for Jones to start. However, when Bradley Beal was hurt, Budenholzer went with an experiment. After placing Ryan Dunn in the starting lineup, he opted for Allen.</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen’s floor spacing does wonders for the Suns</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Grayson-Allen-shooting-a-three.jpg"><figcaption>© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As a result, there was more spacing and a better scoring threat on the floor. Allen’s presence also combated Warriors guard Buddy Hield and his perimeter shooting. One man in particular knew that Allen was poised to have a big game, that being Durant. The 14-time all-star explained that there’s a key difference between Allen’s first start and the 14 other games he’s played in.<br><br>“When you start, it’s different, while coming off the bench, you set the tone,” Durant said. “You have to almost ease into the game and find your game a little bit more. When you come off the bench, you have to just give him some quick points, some quick energy as soon as you come in there. It’s a different mentality you have to have and he’s comfortable starting with us.”</p><p>“Going downhill, making plays, making big shots. I think he was more comfortable knowing that he’s going to play big minutes tonight. Even off the bench, he’s adapted to his role and understanding what we need from him. He’s just been a versatile player for us, so we will need more of it going forward.”</p><p>Allen is attempting <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/allengr01.html" rel="noopener">a career-high 6.4 threes</a> while knocking 35.4% of his looks from that range. His percentage is significantly lower than his league-leading 46.1% from last season. However, he’s attempting deeper threes this season compared to 2023. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-grayson-allens-70-million-extension-with-suns">Allen signed a $70 million extension</a> before the playoffs, he’s been selfless with his role, despite being a starter the season prior.</p><h2>Grayson Allen continues to expand in his bench role with the Suns</h2><p>Despite the reduced percentage, he’s been focusing more on hypotheticals when he gets the ball. Whether it’s shooting immediately or attacking the basket, it’s been an interesting mix. Allen told Shane Young of Forbes during Friday’s practice that his shooting <a href="https://x.com/YoungNBA/status/1862614437875638650" rel="noopener">opens up other areas</a> of his game.<br><br>“Not necessarily driving to score but attacking a lot of times this year,” Allen said. “I’m put in a different spot where it’s either a shot and swing or shot and drive. Last year, I attacked a ton of closeouts off of the shot or drive. I don’t think too much about it. That’s kind of just how it’s developed, but I do know that my volume this year is way up. Ultimately, it’s just trying to feel where you want to be aggressive, they want me to be aggressive in driving but I know my best strength is as a shooter.”</p><p>A 50% three-point shooting game shouldn’t be expected every game for Allen. Even though his percentages last season were up a considerable amount, his role is incredibly different. From being mostly a shooter to now a potential three-level scorer, Saturday’s game was a clear step in that direction. With Beal questionable for Tuesday’s NBA Cup action against the San Antonio Spurs, his number might be called again. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Mike Budenholzer, Kevin Durant highlight Grayson Allen’s first start vs. Warriors

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-mike-budenholzer-grayson-allen-tyus-jones-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', 'How Mike Budenholzer, Grayson Allen convinced Tyus Jones to sign with the Suns');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/How-Suns-Kevin-Durant-Mike-Budenholzer-helped-Tyus-Jones-to-sign-with-Phoenix.jpg"></figure><h1>How Mike Budenholzer, Grayson Allen convinced Tyus Jones to sign with the Suns</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-09-30T18:08:08-07:00">September 30th, 6:08pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-09-30T18:08:08-07:00">September 30th, 6:08pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University while covering events like the 2023 NCAA Men's Final Four, the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Arizona State men's swim and dive team. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the Phoenix Suns signed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-tyus-jones-agrees-to-3-3-million-contract">Tyus Jones to a one-year, $3.3 million contract</a>, both head coach Mike Budenholzer and guard Grayson Allen were smiling from ear to ear. During the Suns’ media day, Jones explained what the message was when he met with the ownership group.</p><p>“That’s what they brought me here for, just to be me, play my game, be the leader that I am,” Jones said. “The guys allow me to do that. That’s huge for me of having and given that confidence to, you know, go out there and play my game and communicate whatever I see or feel out there.”</p><p>Jones has played with many NBA greats, past and present. He played with Kevin Garnett, Derrick Rose, and Jimmy Butler when they were on the Minnesota Timberwolves. When Jones signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, he backed up point guard Ja Morant. Fast forward to Phoenix, he is playing with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, three of the top stars in the NBA.</p><p>However, it wasn’t only the star power and the ownership group that influenced Jones to sign with the Suns. Grayson Allen was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-tyus-jones-major-factor-join-suns">one of the major factors</a> when Jones signed with the Suns. There were questions about who would be in the starting lineup, between the two. Regardless of the lineup change, Allen remained optimistic about the team’s improvement.</p><p>“Me looking at Ty being a starter, I just feel like our team got a lot better,” Allen said. “I’m still the same, same player, a better player. I’m happy our team got a lot better, I’m happy Tyus is on our team, and I’m looking forward to how we look out there with having him. So I could be more excited to have him on our team and I’m ok with what comes with that.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Durant and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/how-devin-booker-called-his-shot-with-gold-medal">Booker called their shot for the gold medal</a> while they were in Paris representing USA Basketball. Throughout the preparation for each game, the duo was shocked to learn that the Suns had landed Jones. Even though the two all-stars have played with a plethora of key players, Jones stands out as one they can truly benefit from.<br><br>“Tyus was just another veteran presence that been around great players throughout his career,” Durant said. “He played in different roles where he was coming off the bench, had the feeling for guys that were injured, got traded to a Washington team where he had to assume a starting role. So he’s been in different situations and so a guy who’s seen a lot in this league is always good. Being around the last two weeks, seeing this game, being able to figure out what, and how I can help as well has been fun.”</p><p>Rewinding to Jones’s conversation with upper management, they were unsure if they could sign the point guard. After all, many contending teams were willing to spend extra money.</p><p>“I understand it’s going to be really tough for someone to take less money to come play for the organization,” Ishbia said. “He got a chance to talk to Coach Bud, and he talked to Kevin, Devin, and Brad. Tyus knew Grayson from college, all these guys know what we’re about here, and they were able to communicate that.”</p><h2><b>Will Mike Budenholzer and Grayson Allen make the Tyus Jones signing worth it for the Suns? </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Tyus-Jones-made-an-impression-on-Mike-Budenholzer.jpg"><figcaption>© Rhona Wise-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jones was one of the hottest names on the free agent market. Although he may not have the superstar aura, his impact cannot be understated. The former Duke Blue Devil had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 7.35 last season, the highest of any player in a season since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. Throughout that time, Jones has the three highest marks in a season with 7.04 in 2021-22 and 6.96 in 2018-19.</p><p>He also produced one of the best seasons of his career with the Washington Wizards. Jones averaged <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesty01.html" rel="noopener">12 points, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and only 1.3 turnovers</a> per game. For the first time, he started every single game and proved why he deserved to be in that spot. Jones had <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jonesty01/gamelog/2024" rel="noopener">21 of his 66 games with zero turnovers</a>. </p><p>Playing with Durant and Booker seems like a dream come true for Jones. Two players who can score about as well as anybody. However, the Suns still have Beal, who is an exceptional scorer in his own right. Beal had been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-celtics-joe-mazzulla-bradley-beal">playing somewhat of a point guard role</a> throughout the previous season. </p><p>He only played in 53 games and <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bealbr01.html" rel="noopener">averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds</a>, and five assists in 33.3 minutes per game. While Beal was extremely efficient, he was consistently injured and could never find a true rhythm. That, combined with the added pressure of being a playmaker made matters worse. As Beal found out about the signing, he shared his initial reaction to Jones joining the squad.<br><br>“All smiles… that’s it though,” Beal said. “It’s exciting though, man. I get to be a two guard, a combo guard, which is what I was for 12 years of my career. To continue to thrive in that role, I’m just super excited with the team we have. Tyus and Monte (Morris) help everybody, it doesn’t just help me. I’m excited I get to be Brad.”</p><p>The Suns will begin their preseason on October 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Suns fans and the entire NBA can see the impact Jones will have on the Big 3.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How Mike Budenholzer, Grayson Allen convinced Tyus Jones to sign with the Suns

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allen-gets-jaw-dropping-nba2k25-rating');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen gets jaw dropping NBA 2K25 rating');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Grayson-Allen-gets-jaw-dropping-NBA2k25-rating.jpg"></figure><h1>Grayson Allen gets jaw dropping NBA 2K25 rating</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-08-12T17:39:34-07:00">August 12th, 5:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-08-12T17:39:34-07:00">August 12th, 5:39pm</time><address><a>Itiel Estudillo</a>Itiel Estudillo is an NBA and Gaming Journalist at ClutchPoints. He's been working as a sports analyst for two years now and aims to leave a remarkable impression in the industry. When off the keyboard, Itiel participates in the local basketball league and pickup games. But when he's off the court, he also loves to grab his controller and enjoy a vast collection of video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Gaming</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Grayson Allen ranks among the top shooters in the base version of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/all-nba-2k25-badges">NBA 2K25</a>. NBA 2K’s official X (formerly Twitter) account <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA2K/status/1823041765261144393" rel="noopener">posted the top five three-point shooters</a> in the game. The list included some of the all-time greats like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. With that in mind, it’s mind-blowing to find out that Allen ranked second behind Curry among the best three-point shooters in the game.</p><p>Here’s the official ranking list with their three-point ratings:</p><ul><li>Stephen Curry – 99</li><li>Grayson Allen – 93</li><li>Kevin Durant – 92</li><li>Klay Thompson – 89</li><li>Mike Conley – 89</li></ul><p>After playing only six years in the NBA, Allen managed to rank himself among the proven and tested shooters in the league. However, while some fans think he’s deserving of the rating, others found it baffling. Here’s what some of them had to say on social media:</p><p>“Grayson Allen AT 2 IS CRAZY😂😂” – @official_ICYY</p><p>“These ratings a little questionable 🤔” – @xBtril</p><p>“Mike Conley and Grayson Allen have a higher 3 than Trae Young?” – @V_SiXK</p><p>“Damn I been sleeping On Allen this long ?????” – @NarkeiseA_</p><p>“We live in a day where Greyson Allen is the second best 3 point shooter in the NBA.” – @iMqddux</p><h2><b>Does Grayson Allen deserve his NBA 2K25 rating?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Grayson-Allen-shooting-over-Jalen-Williams.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Grayson Allen has been in the NBA for six years and is about to enter his seventh season. Throughout that period Allen has proven to be a solid role player to have on the team. However, it’s safe to say that the Phoenix Suns guard played his best season yet in the 2023-24 campaign.</p><p>Looking at his numbers, Allen averaged 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Compared to previous seasons, all those numbers are his career-highs. But what was more impressive was his shot accuracy. Allen shot a career-high 49.9% from the field and led the league in three-point accuracy with 46.1%.</p><p>While Stephen Curry may be the best shooter in the league’s history, Allen outshot the Golden State Warriors star. Curry concluded the season with 40.8% accuracy from long distance. That’s 5.3% less compared to Allen’s long-range shooting. Nevertheless, Steph takes the number one spot in three-point shooting in NBA 2K25 this year simply because he’s Stephen Curry. There’s also the fact that Curry shot lights out in the last couple of games of the 2024 Olympics, which helped Team USA secure the gold medal this year.</p><p>With all that said, it’s safe to say that Allen is deserving of the number two spot among the best three-point shooters in NBA 2K25. To be able to shoot better than the best shooter of all time says a lot about his accuracy on the court.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen gets jaw dropping NBA 2K25 rating

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-real-reason-why-phoenix-big-3-never-meshed-2023-24-per-grayson-allen');   ga('set', 'title', 'Real reason why Suns Big 3 never meshed this 2023-24, per Grayson Allen');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Suns-news-Real-reason-why-Phoenix-Big-3-never-meshed-this-2023-24-per-Grayson-Allen.jpg"></figure><h1>Real reason why Suns Big 3 never meshed this 2023-24, per Grayson Allen</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-29T17:28:45-07:00">April 29th, 5:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-29T17:28:45-07:00">April 29th, 5:28pm</time><address><a href="https://nextmanupblog.medium.com/">Jay Postrado</a>Jay is a sports writer for ClutchPoints, with expertise in covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, Tennis, and Formula 1. He is a lifelong motorsports and tennis fan. Jay's need for speed may no longer be on the grid or courts but has stayed with him through writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A lot of vitriol has been directed towards the Phoenix Suns after getting mopped by the Minnesota Timberwolves in this year’s NBA Playoffs. No one has taken more hits than their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. They will take up a majority of the team’s cap space for the foreseeable future. With no financial flexibility along with little to no draft capital to work with, they have to make it work. Grayson Allen has seen some bright spots with the squad and that might just be enough to keep them going.</p><h2><b>Look at the bright side</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Phoenix-Suns-guard-Devin-Booker-1-dribbles-against-Minnesota-Timberwolves.jpg"><figcaption>© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The idea of only three guys being owed just under half a billion dollars is not good. But, the upside of having Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal on<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-suns-frank-vogel-on-hot-seat-after-losing-locker-room-getting-swept"> the same Suns roster</a> is not that bad at all. After all, it is just their first year together. With the exception of the 2017 Golden State Warriors, some superteams take time to acclimate with one another. This is exactly the reason why Grayson Allen still believes that they have so <a href="https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1785050361197363530" rel="noopener">much to give</a> in the NBA Playoffs, via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.</p><p>“Now that we have a year under our belt with this group playing together and figuring things out, failing together…I feel like that’ll put us in a good spot for next year,” Grayson Allen outlined.</p><p>The Suns finished the season with the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. A lot of that had to do with their inconsistent style of play. They would lose to a middle-of-the-pack team but then topple down a title contender. Nonetheless, this Suns squad finished with the ninth-best offensive rating of 117.6 and sat 13th with a 114.6 defensive rating. A lot of adjustments need to be made if they want to win while their big three are still under contract.</p><h2><b>Rationalizing the Suns’ early exit</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Beal-Suns.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Bright spots are good to keep the Suns’ morale up. But, Grayson Allen did point out that there is a lot of work to do after the season they had. It will obviously help that these woes will get <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-rumors-kevin-durant-unhappy-with-suns-role-alongside-devin-booker-bradley-beal">solved once Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant</a>, and Devin Booker find better ways to mesh together. This is most especially true if none of them go down during the offseason,</p><p>“I think injuries really shortened the timeframes that we had to be the group that we wanted to be. In the season, you have these benchmarks of where you should be by Christmas, All-Star, and going to the end of the season,” he said.</p><p>The Suns were just shocked with the many changes they had in the offseason. It showed evidently throughout the season when they were rushing botched schemes and underperforming in the execution of some coverages.</p><p>“We saw things that if we worked on these things it would be very good for our group. You get to a point where you are later in the season. Now, everything needs to be expedited. You have to be better, quicker, like you don’t have the time to go through those growing pains without it hurting because you’re playing games where you need wins,” he added.</p><p>Will this Suns team be here to stay? Are they shaking up the roster and falling into the same problems? Only time will tell.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Real reason why Suns Big 3 never meshed this 2023-24, per Grayson Allen

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/is-grayson-allen-playing-in-suns-game-3-vs-timberwolves-latest-playoff-injury-update');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen ruled out for Suns’ Game 3 vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Suns-news-Is-Grayson-Allen-playing-vs.-Timberwolves-Latest-playoff-injury-update.jpg"></figure><h1>Grayson Allen ruled out for Suns’ Game 3 vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-26T19:00:39-07:00">April 26th, 7:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-26T19:16:08-07:00">April 26th, 7:16pm</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Grayson Allen has truly been one of the unsung heroes for the Phoenix Suns over the course of the 2023-24 season. In his first season with the team, Allen shot a career-best and league-high 46.1 percent from three-point range in 75 total games. Although he was never really known for being a sharpshooter, the former Duke Blue Devil has reinvented himself to become an irreplaceable member of this team. Now in the midst of the NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Suns find themselves in trouble, down 0-2 before Game 3 on Friday night. To make matters worse, Allen is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allen-concerning-injury-setback-game-2-vs-timberwolves">dealing with a right ankle sprain</a> that would likely sideline him for a few games during the regular season. This has led to the question: Is Grayson Allen playing in Game 3 against the Timberwolves on Friday night?</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen injury status vs. Timberwolves</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Grayson-Allen-high-five-.jpg"><figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns find themselves down two games to none as they head to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4 of this first-round series against the Timberwolves. Whether or not they will have Allen on the wing next to Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker seems to be the big question pertaining to the Suns right now.</p><p>Allen left Game 2 in Minneapolis due to a really bad-looking ankle sprain. After entering the game with a tweaked ankle, Allen had to be helped to the locker room and couldn’t put much weight on his right ankle after coming down awkwardly on Mike Conley’s foot after a block attempt. He did not return to the game.</p><p>Allen was initially <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-04-26_11AM.pdf" rel="noopener">listed as questionable</a> to play on Friday. During the team’s practice session on Thursday, Alle spoke with reporters, claiming that his ankle is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allens-better-injury-update-provides-game-3-hope-for-suns-vs-timberwolves">“better” than he though</a>t it would be.</p><p>“It’s good. Better than I thought. I thought it was going to hurt a lot,” Allen stated. “It’s feeling pretty good.”</p><p>When asked if he felt like he would be available to play on Friday, Allen simply smirked and stated that he was questionable.</p><p>Unfortunately, Allen <a href="https://twitter.com/Amanda_Pflugrad/status/1784032805087043912" rel="noopener">has since been ruled out</a> for the contest, per Suns reporter Amanda Pflugrad.</p><p>Bad luck has followed Allen around in this series, as he has scored just a total of seven points on 1-of-5 shooting from 3-point range through two days. In the Suns’ season finale against the Timberwolves, Allen scored 20 points and made 8-of-11 shots from the floor, including three triples.</p><p>Friday night’s Game 3 in Phoenix is a massive matchup for the Suns. Should they go down 0-3, they will be staring down a scenario in which they would need to make NBA history just to keep their title hopes alive. No team has ever come back from being down 0-3 in a series, as teams facing this scenario are 0-151 all time.</p><p>So, when it comes to the question of whether Grayson Allen is playing on Friday night against the Timberwolves, the answer is unfortunately NO.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen ruled out for Suns’ Game 3 vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allens-better-injury-update-provides-game-3-hope-for-suns-vs-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grayson Allen’s ‘better’ injury update provides Game 3 hope for Suns vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/7335699249.jpg"></figure><h1>Grayson Allen’s ‘better’ injury update provides Game 3 hope for Suns vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-25T14:11:24-07:00">April 25th, 2:11pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-25T14:11:24-07:00">April 25th, 2:11pm</time><address><a>Nick Meyer</a>Nick Meyer is a sports writer for ClutchPoints based in the Metro Detroit area. He has covered everything from Major League Baseball to the NFL, UFC, and College Football.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns have their work cut out for them in games three and four against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Valley of the Sun, and Grayson Allen could be a big part of turning the tide. Allen aggravated an ankle injury <a href="https://www.nba.com/news/grayson-allen-injured-game-2">in Game 2</a> against the Wolves in Minnesota and now he’s sharing an injury update on how things have been going.</p><p>Allen’s update came during a time when ex-NBA star Jamal Crawford released a hot take on how a surprising player <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-could-isaiah-thomas-save-season-jamal-crawford-thinks-so">could save Phoenix’s season</a>. Bradley Beal’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-bradley-beals-no-trade-clause-major-roadblock-future">future was also discussed</a> amid his playoff struggles.</p><p>With so much uncertainty surrounding the Suns in recent days, Allen’s injury update was welcome news, and came in the form of a video shared <a href="https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1783584430629732805">by reporter Duane Rankin</a>.</p><h2><b>Grayson Allen’s Injury Update </b></h2><p>Allen was asked about the pain he’s felt in regards to his ankle injury, which he described as a “violent roll.”</p><p>He said it’s “more painful when you do it that way” than when the ankle lands flat on the ground. Allen’s injury originally appeared so severe that NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley stated that it may be a two-week long injury.</p><p>On Thursday, Allen described his current injury situation as “questionable” when asked about it.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"Better than what I thought."</p><p>Grayson Allen on how his right ankle feels after spraining it for a second straight game in Game 1 and Game 2 vs. Timberwolves.</p><p>Called himself questionable for Game 3. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suns?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> <a href="https://t.co/kb4PBpnnqT">pic.twitter.com/kb4PBpnnqT</a></p><p>— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) <a href="https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1783584430629732805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“He looks happy man,” one fan said in response to the video.</p><p>“Let (him) come off the bench,” another fan added.</p><p>One Suns fan sounded especially confident on X after watching the Allen video. Many fans feel that Frank Vogel’s team needs Allen to battle Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, who now have a 2-0 lead in the series. Frank Vogel’s team started the year as a Finals favorite and is now a serious underdog against their younger opponents.</p><p>“We gonna win this series,” another fan added.</p><p>“Just bring him off the bench man,” another reader stated in regards to Allen’s current playing status and future.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Grayson-Allen-pass.jpg"><figcaption>Apr 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (8) passes against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter during game two of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Late Night Start For Friday’s Suns-Wolves Game Three</b></h2><p>The Suns and Timberwolves are expected to tip it off at 10:30 p.m. on Friday night, with Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and the rest of the stars set to get after it in a pivotal Game Three.</p><p>Frank Vogel’s team needs a win to avoid falling behind 3-0 while the young Timberwolves smell blood in the water and will seek to take a commanding lead in the series.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grayson Allen’s ‘better’ injury update provides Game 3 hope for Suns vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-phoenix-grayson-allen-injury-silver-lining-ugly-game-2-loss-to-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Grayson Allen injury silver lining after ugly Game 2 loss to Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Phoenixs-Grayson-Allen-injury-silver-lining-after-ugly-Game-2-loss-to-Wolves.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Grayson Allen injury silver lining after ugly Game 2 loss to Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-23T20:47:18-07:00">April 23rd, 8:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-23T20:47:18-07:00">April 23rd, 8:47pm</time><address><a href="https://nextmanupblog.medium.com/">Jay Postrado</a>Jay is a sports writer for ClutchPoints, with expertise in covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, Tennis, and Formula 1. He is a lifelong motorsports and tennis fan. Jay's need for speed may no longer be on the grid or courts but has stayed with him through writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Grayson Allen has been the x-factor for the Phoenix Suns throughout the regular season. If Frank Vogel doesn’t see much offensive momentum between Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker, he would likely be the guy to step up. The former Duke star has not gotten many opportunities to shine because of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ suffocating defense. His chances may have also just gotten slimmer after their second clash in the NBA Playoffs first round.</p><h2><b>How’s Allen doing?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Phoenix-Suns-guard-Grayson-Allen-8-passes-against-the-Minnesota-Timberwolves.jpg"><figcaption>© Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Suns are now down two to nothing in their series against the Timberwolves. To add more concern to the minds of their fans, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allen-injury-update-phoenix-game-2-timberwolves">Grayson Allen went down again</a> in the second game of their NBA Playoffs matchup. He was immediately taken to the locker room for evaluation and treatment. Thankfully, his X-ray results came in negative. Coach Frank Vogel and the rest of the Suns staff will now treat his status as <a href="https://twitter.com/DuaneRankin/status/1782961756962250949" rel="noopener">day-to-day</a>, per Duane Rankin of AZ Central.</p><p>Before going down, Grayson Allen still played 17 minutes. He went one for two in his field goal attempts from way out to score three points. The Suns guard also showcased how good he was at crashing the boards. He finished the night with three rebounds.</p><p>Allen still has a lot to give in this matchup for<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allen-exits-with-ankle-injury-game-1-vs-timberwolves"> the Suns to stay afloat.</a> For the season, he is averaging 13.5 points alongside 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists. This guard has not come close to that level of production since the NBA Playoffs started.  In the past two games, Allen only totaled seven points, eight rebounds, and two assists. He still has a lot left in the tank and can bounce back against the Timberwolves if deemed healthy.</p><p>After the horrendous performances by the Suns’ big three, they will surely need him to get back on the court and return to his former self.</p><h2><b>Suns get smacked in their faces by the Timberwolves</b></h2><p>There’s no easy way to put it but the Suns are getting dominated. They could not control the pace and tempo of the game. Some shots looked forced while other offensive sequences were just poorly executed. This was a direct contrast to how great the Timberwolves played in Game 2. Everyone looked calm and composed on offense which led to quality baskets. On defense, they were just breaking everyone’s rhythm.</p><p>Only Devin Booker managed to score 20 points for the Suns. Even then, going six for 13 on his field goal attempts was more detrimental than it was good. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal then combined for 32 points which was not much of an offensive boost.</p><p>The Suns also could not capitalize on a terrible three-point shooting night from their opponents. Anthony Edwards and the rest of his squad put up a terrible 28.1% three-point shooting percentage. Jusuf Nurkic also controlled the glass fairly well by grabbing 14 out of the Suns’ 41 total rebounds. Despite this advantage on the boards, the Suns just could not find ways to score.</p><p>There were plenty of opportunities for them to make a run. But, only scoring 42 points while being punched with 55 points in the last half of the game will never help their case.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Grayson Allen injury silver lining after ugly Game 2 loss to Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allen-concerning-injury-setback-game-2-vs-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Grayson Allen suffers concerning injury setback in Game 2 vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Phoenixs-Grayson-Allen-suffers-concerning-injury-setback-in-Game-2-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Grayson Allen suffers concerning injury setback in Game 2 vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-23T20:33:00-07:00">April 23rd, 8:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-23T20:34:44-07:00">April 23rd, 8:34pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns are getting all they can handle from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The No. 3 seed’s talent and defensive aggression has given this group fits in the opening round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, winning the first two games of this best-of-seven showdown. Phoenix’s troubles extend beyond its play, however.</p><p>Grayson Allen, who received a few votes for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/76ers-news-tyrese-maxey-wins-most-improved-player-award">Most Improved Player of the Year</a> award, <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1782940939767480751" rel="noopener">re-aggravated his right ankle sprain</a> in  Tuesday night’s 105-93 Game 2 loss. While contesting a Mike Conley Jr. drive to the basket, the Suns’ perimeter threat rolled his ankle once again, via ClutchPoints. He was in obvious pain and was helped off to the locker room.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Grayson Allen had to be helped to the locker room after stepping on Mike Conley's foot.</p><p>Hope he's alright 🙏<a href="https://t.co/UH5P5C3YRa">pic.twitter.com/UH5P5C3YRa</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1782940939767480751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Allen was then<a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1782948345389981699" rel="noopener"> ruled out</a> for the remainder of the contest, per the team. He initially <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allen-injury-update-phoenix-game-2-timberwolves">suffered the injury</a> in Phoenix’s Game 1 loss, so the immediate worry is that he could be in jeopardy of missing multiple games, if not the entire series. That is a scary thought for a Suns squad that is already lacking in secondary scoring options.</p><p>Although the 28-year-old has struggled to make much of an impact in the first two matchups against the Timberwolves (just three points on 1-of-2 shooting in 17 mins in Game 2), he is someone head coach Frank Vogel has trusted all throughout the 2023-24 season.</p><h2><b>What Grayson Allen means to the Suns </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Suns-Grayson-Allen-tries-to-shake-Mike-Conley-Jr.jpg"><figcaption>Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Allen’s 13.5 points per game on 49.9 percent shooting from the field and 46.1 percent from 3-point land (best in NBA) helped cover up Phoenix’s depth problems and earned him <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-phoenix-grayson-allen-70-million-contract-extension-playoffs">a fat paycheck</a> before the playoffs. He can also bring energy on the defensive end.</p><p>Minnesota erupted shortly after the former Duke star exited the game. Is it a coincidence? Perhaps, but Allen did post a +3 plus-minus rating in the 17 minutes he played on Tuesday.</p><p>Either way, fans cannot deny that the team has a better chance of pulling off the No. 6 over No. 3 upset with him on the court. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker could become fully unleashed when they arrive at the Footprint Center for Game 3, Bradley Beal is a threat himself and Eric Gordon, Royce O’Neale and Drew Eubanks have the ability to be key bench commodities going forward. But losing Grayson Allen would add to the adversity the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-draymond-green-sage-advice-kevin-durant-phoenix-beat-timberwolves">Suns are currently facing</a>.</p><p>And that is especially concerning when they are already in a 2-0 hole in the series. Phoenix is under suffocating pressure to win a championship after acquiring Durant and Beal in a near-five-month span last year. There might be little else the front office can do this offseason to improve its chances. Big decisions will have to be made if the franchise bows out early in the NBA Playoffs.</p><p>Unless the Suns issue a strong response Friday night in the desert, bitter disappointment is likely going to be their reality for the next several months. Fans will wait to see what the prognosis is for Allen, but they are already preparing for the worst. The team must look deep within itself and take things day by day.</p><p>Stay connected with ClutchPoints for the latest Grayson Allen injury update.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Grayson Allen suffers concerning injury setback in Game 2 vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allen-injury-update-phoenix-game-2-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Grayson Allen gets final injury update for Game 2 vs. Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Suns-news-Grayson-Allen-injury-update-brings-concern-for-Game-2-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Grayson Allen gets final injury update for Game 2 vs. Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-23T15:15:13-07:00">April 23rd, 3:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-23T15:30:55-07:00">April 23rd, 3:30pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from a small town in Southern California. Mistretta graduated college with a degree in broadcast journalism from Biola University.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/five-takeaways-suns-game-1-loss-timberwolves-review">currently trail</a> the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0 in their playoff series. Phoenix would love nothing more than to even the series at one game apiece on Tuesday night in Minnesota. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will lead the way, but Phoenix’s top three-point option Grayson Allen is battling an injury concern.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-grayson-allen-exits-with-ankle-injury-game-1-vs-timberwolves">Allen suffered an ankle injury</a> in Game 1. Phoenix is hopeful that he can return as soon as possible. Allen was the most efficient 3-point shooter in the NBA during the regular season, and the Suns could certainly use his long-range shooting ability against the Timberwolves.</p><p>Phoenix needs to win Game 2. Trailing 0-2 would be far from ideal. Sure, the Suns will return home for Game 3, but they will feel better about the situation if the series ends up being tied at 1-1.</p><p>So is Grayson Allen playing tonight vs. the Timberwolves in this playoff clash?</p><p><b><i>*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV </i></b><a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/nba/?irad=356361&amp;irmp=492408" rel="noopener sponsored"><b><i>(click for a free trial)*</i></b></a></p><h2><b>Grayson Allen’s injury status for Suns-Timberwolves Game 2</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mike-Conley-defends-Grayson-Allen.jpg"><figcaption>Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Allen was <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2024-04-23_10AM.pdf" rel="noopener">initially listed as questionable</a> due to a right ankle sprain, per the NBA Injury Report. Damion Lee has been ruled out for Phoenix.</p><p>fortunately, prior to tip-off, Coach Frank Vogel confirmed that Allen is a go and will even start <a href="https://twitter.com/GeraldBourguet/status/1782893058700296252" rel="noopener">without minutes restriction</a>, per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.</p><p>Allen had been a fairly reliable player in his career before ending up with Phoenix for the 2023-24 season. He primarily came off the bench to begin his career with the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Allen joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021-22, where he was given a starting role.</p><p>After two years in Milwaukee, Allen was traded to the Suns this past offseason. And it is safe to say he found his footing in Phoenix.</p><p>Allen appeared in 75 games and started 74 of those contests. He led the league with a superb 46.1 percent three-point percentage. He also shot 49.9 percent from the field and averaged 13.5 points per game. Allen fits well on the Suns with Phoenix’s stars receiving the majority of the attention. As a result, Durant, Booker, and Beal can often kick the ball to Allen when defenses focus on them.</p><p>While Allen is available, winning Game 2 will still be difficult. The Timberwolves are more than capable of taking care of business on both the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. Minnesota’s all-around versatility makes them a challenging opponent for any team.</p><p>The Suns’ playoff experience will help their case, though. Kevin Durant has played in no shortage of postseason games, while Devin Booker has valuable experience as well. Phoenix will not back down in the series despite the odds. The Suns also went 3-0 against the Timberwolves during the regular season, which is something else to keep in mind as the series moves forward.</p><p>But again, when it comes to the question of if Grayson Allen is playing tonight vs. the Timberwolves, the answer is YES.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Suns’ Grayson Allen gets final injury update for Game 2 vs. Timberwolves

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/suns-news-grayson-allen-exits-with-ankle-injury-game-1-vs-timberwolves');   ga('set', 'title', 'Suns’ Grayson Allen exits with ankle injury in Game 1 vs Timberwolves');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Grayson-Allen-exits-with-ankle-injury-in-Game-1-vs-Timberwolves.jpg"></figure><h1>Suns’ Grayson Allen exits with ankle injury in Game 1 vs Timberwolves</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-04-20T17:14:45-07:00">April 20th, 5:14pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-04-20T17:15:28-07:00">April 20th, 5:15pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Phoenix Suns arrived at the Target Center with momentum, plenty of postseason experience and three players who can absolutely dissect defenses. Needless to say, fans expected their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-frank-vogels-confident-take-ahead-of-timberwolves-clash">Game 1 matchup</a> with the Minnesota Timberwolves to be a competitive affair. Things turned ugly in the second half, though, in more ways than one.</p><p>Grayson Allen rolled his right ankle while trying to make something happen on offense versus Karl-Anthony Towns in the third quarter. The NBA’s leader in 3-point shooting percentage was in visible discomfort and headed to the locker room.</p><p>He was <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1781800679918510332" rel="noopener">ruled questionable to return</a>, a diagnosis that became irrelevant as the Wolves cruised to a 120-95 victory. Allen failed to score in 25 minutes of action (0-of-3 shooting) and finished with five rebounds, two assists and two turnovers. On a day when Devin Booker shot just 5-of-16 from the floor, and the Suns’ bench struggled as a whole, a potential fourth-quarter outburst from Allen was sorely needed.</p><p>The most important thing now, however, is his long-term availability. Phoenix’s lack of depth has been discussed throughout the season, but it was painfully apparent in this NBA Playoffs showdown. Even the enduring greatness of Kevin Durant (31 points on 11-of-17 shooting) is not enough on its own to overcome this hungry Minnesota team.</p><p>Allen has been a vital addition to this roster, hence why the Suns made it their mission to lock him up with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/grading-grayson-allens-70-million-extension-with-suns">four-year, $70 million contract extension</a> just days before postseason play began. If he is unable to quickly and effectively return to action, the veteran core will have to carry an even bigger offensive burden in this series.</p><p>A healthy Grayson Allen is not going to magically fix all of the Suns’ issues, though.</p><h2><b>Suns must adjust coming out of tough Game 1 defeat</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Suns-Grayson-Allen-is-all-smiles.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>With only Durant, Bradley Beal and Royce O’Neale putting forth worthwhile and efficient performances on offense, Phoenix mustered just 44 percent shooting. But worse than that, the squad had no answer for the Timberwolves in the second half.</p><p>Anthony Edwards captivated <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/timberwolves-news-anthony-edwards-trash-talk-moment-with-kevin-durant">and ignited the wild home crowd</a>, posting a game-high 33 points with nine rebounds, six assists and two steals. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added a crucial 18 points on the strength of four made 3-pointers, as Minnesota crushed Phoenix in the battle of the benches, 41-18.</p><p>Significant improvements have to be made before Tuesday’s Game 2. Suns head coach Frank Vogel needs to figure out how to work around what looked to be an impenetrable defense for most of this contest.</p><p>Physicality can be a weakness for his team, but it has the talent and skill to overcome Defensive Player of the Year favorite Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker both know what it takes to enjoy deep playoff runs. Phoenix could gain control of this first-round if those two dynamic scorers erupt in unison.</p><p>The role players obviously have to step up, too, but Grayson Allen is the most important scoring option on this squad outside of the star trio. He averaged a career-best 13.5 points on near 50 percent shooting in 75 games played during the 2023-24 campaign. The former national champion with Duke may be polarizing– he <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1781795183308218853" rel="noopener">drew many boos</a> after elbowing Mike Conley Jr. in the face– but he is a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/suns-grayson-allen-contract-explanation-by-james-jones">potential X-factor for the Suns</a>.</p><p>They hope he can shake off this ankle injury and be a difference-maker for the remainder of the series.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.5	3.0	5.5	0.3	1.0

2025-26 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
17.5	3.0	5.5	0.3	1.0

Grayson Allen news

Grayson
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