Suns Confirm Lower Leg Injury For Key Guard

Just when the Phoenix Suns were hoping to get healthy, another injury hits the lineup.

Suns guard Jordan Goodwin departed action early in last night's loss to the Charlotte Hornets with a calf injury, playing just 12 minutes.

"Goody, just a left calf. I think it happened on the play we saw where he got landed on, just in a bad spot. We'll just see how it bounces back next couple of days," Suns coach Jordan Ott said post-game (h/t Duane Rankin).

Goodwin left action with three points, one rebound and one block.

The Suns lost 127-107 in Charlotte and look to wrap up their road trip in Chicago on Sunday. We'll get an update on Goodwin as late as Saturday afternoon/evening.

Phoenix has five games remaining in the regular season. Ott doesn't sound overly concerned on Goodwin's injury, though this surely isn't what anyone wanted to see ahead of the postseason.

The Suns are all but eliminated from the sixth seed, ensuring their participation in the play-in tournament.

Goodwin, an active defensive presence and rebounder in Phoenix's backcourt, has been crucial for the Suns this season - especially in terms of picking up tough assignments on a nightly basis.

Goodwin's effort doesn't go unnoticed by coaches in Phoenix or elsewhere.

“I think he is a winning basketball player that understands who he is. By that I mean, he embraces doing all the stuff that maybe a star player does not want to do, because of that, star players generally fall in love playing with him," Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Goodwin earlier this season.

"On top of that, we unfortunately saw it in the preseason, but I have seen it this season. He is just playing with a level of confidence and freedom. I think when you have rosters that have three ball dominant guys, it can sort of force you into a box as a role player. This Phoenix team has a number of guys, you see what Dillon Brooks is doing this year, you see what he did against us. Just more opportunities, and Goodie (Jordan Goodwin) is taking advantage of those and he is playing really well.”