Issues bubbling to surface for slumping Suns

Although it's too early to panic with 72 games left in the regular season, the revamped Phoenix Suns (4-6) clearly have concerns.

After winning on road against the Detroit Pistons and in overtime against the Chicago Bulls, the Suns lost home games against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Phoenix aims to stop the two-game losing streak on Wednesday against the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves (8-2).

Complicating matters are unforeseen hurdles, notably injuries that have prevented stars Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal from playing together this season. Per azcentral.com, they are expected to play together against the Timberwolves. Additionally, players are adapting to a new system implemented by new head coach Frank Vogel. 

But other issues have bubbled to the surface as well.

In four of the Suns' six losses, they blew leads taken into the fourth quarter. In Sunday's loss, the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outscored Phoenix by himself in the final period, 14-13. Phoenix is averaging a league-low 21.6 points in the fourth quarter.

Durant, meanwhile, is carrying the team, averaging 30 points in 10 games. The next-closest scorer is Beal, who is coming off a back injury but still averaging 17.3 points. (In the two games he played, Booker — who has missed the past eight games with a right calf strain — is averaging 31.5 points.)

"It's tough losing games," Durant said following the 111-99 loss to the Thunder. "I like the fabric of the guys in the locker room and we will figure it out."

Following the loss to the Thunder, Vogel acknowledged the challenges his team is facing early in the season.

"Brad's battling through his back injury and trying to get his legs under him," he told the media, via ESPN. "KD has been carrying a heavy load for us all season, played every game and pretty big minutes."

Amid injury setbacks, key role players have stepped up, showcasing their value in the absence of a complete roster. Grayson Allen is averaging 12.2 points and shooting an impressive 48.2% from beyond the arc. Eric Gordon, meanwhile, is averaging 13.6 points on 44.6% shooting from the field while Josh Okogie injects energy with impactful hustle plays.

The return of Booker and the restoration of a fully healthy roster should turbocharge the Suns, who can't afford to fall behind in a stacked Western Conference.