PHOENIX – Momentum heading into the NBA playoffs isn’t just about wins; it’s about built-up chemistry over the season, team identity, and being healthy. Right now, the Phoenix Suns are searching for that at the worst possible time.
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Jan 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) celebrates with teammates Devin Booker (1) and Jordan Goodwin (23) against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Tuesday’s loss against the Houston Rockets wasn’t just another loss. It was a psychological gut punch. With Kevin Durant back and being vocal on the court when Houston took over, it was a defeat that stung. Phoenix couldn’t capitalize on its early dominance, reinforcing a troubling trend that this team struggles to close with fourth-quarter woes.
Mar 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) and guard Jalen Green (4) against the Denver Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Now comes the Dallas Mavericks on the second night of a home back-to-back and the final home game of the 2025-26 regular season. The stakes are layered, though, as Phoenix sits in the seventh spot in the Western Conference, but the margin for error is razor-thin, just two games separating them from slipping deeper into play-in chaos. The challenge is bigger than one game. After Dallas, the Suns face tough road tests against the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. Phoenix, by contrast, is still experimenting with rotations and late-game execution, and is trying to define its late-game identity against some of the toughest teams in the league.
Apr 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) celebrates with Devin Booker (1) against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For Phoenix fans, the frustration isn’t just inconsistency late in games; it’s unfulfilled potential. This roster was built for cohesion at the top, but injuries have derailed the on-court flow, and chemistry remains intermittent. In a play-in format, inconsistency is fatal. The Suns don’t need perfection; they need clarity through adjustments. One complete performance against Dallas could reset their trajectory. Without it, they risk entering the postseason not just as underdogs, but as a team still asking how they can contend in the playoffs.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
