Dillon Brooks exited the game against Orlando early in the first quarter, and it did not take long to learn it was his left hand. Then the real news dropped. The hand was fractured, and the absence would not be short-term.
The diagnosis was revealed today, scheduled for four to six weeks. It’s a significant stretch of time that removes one of the Suns’ most physical tone setters from the rotation and further thins an already strained roster.
Four weeks from now would land Dillon Brooks’ return on March 24 against Denver. That would mean roughly 15 games missed, and everyone understands that represents the most optimistic outcome. The six-week timeline feels more realistic, which would push his return to April 7 against Houston. At that point, the Suns would have four games left in the regular season.
That is where the real question lives. If Brooks is out that long, when does it make sense to bring him back? Do you shut him down through the rest of the regular season and save him for the Play-In? Or do you hope the six-week mark holds, give him a handful of games to get his legs back, and let him ramp up heading into postseason play?
It is another frustrating reminder of how little continuity this team has had all season. Jalen Green has missed 48 games. Devin Booker has missed 14 and counting. Grayson Allen has missed 22. All you can do is hope a player in the middle of a career year heals cleanly and comes back ready when it matters most.
