Suns getting big reinforcements against Bucks who are without an All-Star

PHOENIX — Three of the Phoenix Suns‘ key rotation players, Grayson Allen, Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards, are expected to return to the lineup Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Allen missed six consecutive games with a left foot strain and was taken off the injury report ahead of the matchup against he and coach Mike Budenholzer’s former team.

Plumlee missed Phoenix’s last two contests with a left quadriceps strain, an injury he said he felt at halftime of their 129-89 win against the Toronto Raptors on a week ago. The backup big man played just four minutes in that game.

Richards missed one game, their 123-112 win over the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, with a right calf injury he sustained in warmups ahead of Friday’s clash. Budenholzer said he and Plumlee are both expected to play after going through warmups and entering the game listed as probable.

These absences to key players have actually been fruitful for the Suns. Winners of four of their last five, minutes from rookies and bench players like Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro, Collin Gillespie and Cody Martin have changed the defensive identity of the team as they race to stay in the play-in.

Milwaukee will be without All-Star guard Damian Lillard. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr. came into the game probable to play and are officially in, according to Bucks coach Doc Rivers.

Phoenix (34-37) is tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the 10th seed and final spot in the Western Conference play-in, but owns the season tiebreaker. Dallas recently got All-Star center Anthony Davis back after missing a month with an adductor injury he sustained in his debut game after the massive trade for Luka Doncic.

Budenholzer mentioned that he will “lean on” the players that have been playing good in their recent stretch with guys out.