Can the Phoenix Suns’ depth keep up their offensive consistency with Booker struggling?

A team that briefly found rhythm during a six-game stretch lost four straight heading into Saturday night’s matchup. That’s not just a skid, it’s a signal. Phoenix sits seventh in the West, with the play-in tournament looming like a tax on inconsistency.

The Suns’ depth carried the Suns early on Saturday night, as their star shooting guard Devin Booker didn’t have a bucket until 6:44 left in the second quarter and started the game shooting 1-for-7. Collin Gillespie and Jalen Green held it down and kept the offense moving while their star started cold. Jalen Green ended the first quarter with 15 points while Gillespie had eight of his own.

Milwaukee arrived with its own tension. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ankle situation isn’t just about the severity of his injury; it is the direction in which he takes it. The organization is weighing long-term preservation, though Antetokounmpo wants to compete. With him sitting, Phoenix is facing a rare opening. Good teams capitalize, and desperate teams must. For Suns fans, the frustration isn’t effort; it’s squandered margin. Close losses and depleted lineups don’t earn sympathy in the standings.

In today’s NBA, momentum isn’t found; it’s taken. If Phoenix can’t seize a compromised opponent at home, the path forward narrows to the uncertainty of the play-in. Though if their depth and coaching adjustments continue to work, Phoenix might be in a good position to gain some momentum and get back in the win column.