Suns reveal positive update on Grayson Allen’s injury status vs. Hawks

The Phoenix Suns are on a three-game winning streak and will look to extend it to four against the Atlanta Hawks as the team is nearing full strength.

After sustaining left knee soreness on Sunday vs. the Charlotte Hornets, forward Grayson Allen was listed as probable on the NBA injury report heading into Tuesday. Jusuf Nurkić will miss his second straight game as he is battling an illness.

Slowly getting back into the groove of things after a slow start to the season, Allen has been effective and efficient over the past three games. Scoring 13 or more points in the last three matchups, Allen is now averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. The Duke product is shooting 43.7% from the field and 40.8% from 3 in his first year coming off the bench as a Sun.

Out against the Hawks, Nurkić won’t be suiting up as Mason Plumlee and Oso Ighodaro retain their spots at the center position. Nurkić is averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, but was recently removed from the starting lineup and was benched the last two games he was available for.

For Atlanta, its injury report is massive for its clash tonight vs. Phoenix. Bogdan Bogdanović (right knee inflammation) and Trae Young (illness) are both questionable while Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder injury), Jalen Johnson (right shoulder inflammation), Larry Nance Jr. (right hand surgery) and Cody Zeller (personal reasons) are all out.

A three-time NBA All-Star, Young has been relatively healthy this season but could be out with an illness. Starting in all 36 games he has played, the Texas native is putting up 22.5 points, 12.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds a game, averaging a double-double.

Missing more than half the season so far, Bogdanović hasn’t been able to stay healthy and could also miss the rematch vs. the Suns.  The Serbian has tallied 11.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 17 games.

Shining for the Hawks when healthy, Johnson has been impressive this year and has a legitimate shot at being an NBA All-Star. The 23-year-old is averaging career highs in points (19.8), rebounds (10.1) assists (5.3) and blocks (1.1) per game this season.

Bufkin, Atlanta’s No. 15 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is out for the remainder of the season as he underwent surgery on his right shoulder. In 10 games, Bufkin posted 5.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Going through surgery on a fractured fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand, Nance Jr. does not have a timeline for a possible return. His first season for the Hawks has seen him average 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 15 games.

The 11-year NBA veteran Zeller hasn’t played a game for the Hawks as he hasn’t been with the team. He was involved in a trade to Atlanta in a deal that saw the New Orleans Pelicans receive Dejounte Murray this past offseason.

Following the Suns beating the Hawks 123-115 last Thursday, the two teams will square off inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta tonight at 5:30 p.m. MST.