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Suns receive stellar injury update on Mark Williams ahead of Hornets matchup

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 7:06 PM ET

The Phoenix Suns get their fully healthy starting five for the first in nearly a month with the return of center Mark Williams. The 24-year-old has been out since March 5th due to a foot injury suffered in a game vs. the Sacramento Kings. In his 15-game absence, Phoenix went 7-8, but it has maintained the seventh seed in the Western Conference. His return for Thursday’s game vs. the Charlotte Hornets gives the Suns a much needed boost to end the regular season.

What Williams return means for Suns:

The franchise has six games remaining and are 4.5 games away from the sixth seed. While mathematically possible, Phoenix catching a top six seed is unlikely to happen. This means the team will have to take part in the Play-In and not have their playoff spot secured. The Suns will be in the 7-8 matchup in the West Play-In tournament, with the 8th seed held by the Los Angeles Clippers.

The two organizations are 2-2 against each other this season, with three of the matchups happening in the first three weeks of the season. The opening part of the 2025-2026 season was one of the few stretches where Phoenix was semi-healthy and had stellar success. The inclusion of Dillon Brooks and Williams in the starting lineup boosted the Suns to a hot start to the year.

The same outcome can happen during this final six game stretch leading into the Play-In. Brooks returned last game, with Williams coming back Thursday. The pair will have an opportunity to wave off the cobwebs and return to their regular self before Playoff basketball begins. Phoenix is 33-23 this season with Williams, as the big man has become critical to the team’s success.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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