PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns are struggling at the worst time of the season. The franchise is 1-9 in the last 10 games vs. teams with winning records and below .500 since the All-Star break. Injuries were the quick excuse, missing fringe All-Star Dillon Brooks with a fractured hand. However, even after his return, Phoenix is 2-4 and the 30-year-old is struggling to find his offensive groove that came so easy earlier in the season.
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Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) moves the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Brooks since his return:
- Six games played (28.5 minutes per game)
- 14.5 points
- 3.3 rebounds
- 1.8 assists
- 38.6% shooting/35.7% from 3 on 4.7 attempts
Apr 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) celebrates a shot against the Houston Rockets in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Before his injury, Brooks was averaging 21.2 points on 44.1% shooting and 34.3% from beyond the arc. Despite the worst 3-point shooting, the Canadian forward was taking nearly seven attempts per game a massive increase compared to this latest stretch. The difference is Brooks playstyle has shifted slightly since his return.
He is taking less drives per game, from 8.4 pre All-Star break compared to 6.0 in his past six games. That slight change has led him to taking less free throws per game and less opportunities to drive to his spots. The 6’7 wing loves playing physical and bumping to get to his elbow jumper, but that has been a challenge since his return.
Apr 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Any return from an extended time off will lead to some rust and to be less aggressive, but another reason for the decrease in production is that the Suns are healthy for the first time all season. A game after Brooks return, Mark Williams returned to the lineup, giving head coach Jordan Ott a fully healthy roster. The rise of Brooks came to fruition because of the absence of Jalen Green, but now that he has return the team is out of sync offensively.
In the past six games, Phoenix has the 29th shooting percentage from the field at 43.4 and 28th in three-point percentage with 31.8. The only saving grace is the defense remains top 10 during that span and will likely remain at that spot because of the team’s grit. However, grit can’t put the ball in the basket. With only one game remaining, and Ott likely his starters, the Suns offense is falling a part and it can only be fixed by Brooks returning to his pre-injury form during the Play-In.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
