The Phoenix Suns currently trail 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.
Allen suffered an ankle injury 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.
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.
So is Grayson Allen playing tonight vs. the Timberwolves in this playoff clash?
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Grayson Allen's injury status for Suns-Timberwolves Game 2
Allen was initially listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain, per the NBA Injury Report. Damion Lee has been ruled out for Phoenix.
fortunately, prior to tip-off, Coach Frank Vogel confirmed that Allen is a go and will even start without minutes restriction, per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
But again, when it comes to the question of if Grayson Allen is playing tonight vs. the Timberwolves, the answer is YES.