MIAMI — After finishing off the homestand on a high note, the Phoenix Suns’ road trip started differently on Tuesday night.
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Jan 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dunks against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
In a battle against the Miami Heat, the Suns couldn’t complete a comeback, opening their six-game stretch with a 127-121 loss. However, it wasn’t just the sting of the defeat that made the trip start on a sour note, but what unfolded during the game itself.
Star guard Devin Booker went down with an ankle injury during the third quarter after coming down hard on a defensive play under the basket, causing him to limp off the court for some time. Although he eventually returned for the fourth quarter, Booker was still icing the ankle after the game.
Head coach Jordan Ott gave him credit for pushing through the injury, but was unsure of Booker’s status for Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons.
Devin Booker seems to have landed awkwardly on his leg and limped straight to the locker room.
Prayers for Book 🙏♥️ pic.twitter.com/cAIB6DDOs7
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) January 14, 2026
“Man, dude is a warrior, right?” Ott said post-game, according to Arizona Central’s Duane Rankin. “[I] put him back in the fourth because we knew it was going to stiffen up. As soon as he was ready, we were going to put him in. You could tell after some of his shots when he landed, he wasn’t feeling great… It’s one of those things we’ll see how it responds to the night, some type of treatment and see where he is in two days.”
Booker’s injury comes at a tough time, just as other key pieces on the roster are beginning to return. Jalen Green, who has played just one full game this season, is expected to make his comeback at some point during the road trip. Now, with the possibility of losing another player, the Suns face an added setback.
Injuries weren’t the only concern on Tuesday night.
Jan 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dillon Brooks was assessed his 14th technical foul of the season in the loss. Under NBA rules, if a player reaches 16 technical fouls in a season, they are suspended for one game and fined.
The issue is timing, as the Suns are only halfway through the season. Brooks has proven to be one of the heartbeats of the rotation, and losing him for an extended period of time could disrupt the chemistry the team has been building.
Jan 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) battle for a loose ball during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The road trip doesn’t get any easier. While Phoenix has shown that even in the face of large deficits, turning a game around in the blink of an eye, potentially losing two core rotation pieces throws a wrench into things.
Even through adversity, the Suns have consistently found ways to bounce back after tough losses. How they regroup and refocus will determine how the rest of the road trip unfolds.
Jan 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) and forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) during the third quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Suns now head to Michigan to face the number one team in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons, on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 5 p.m.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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