OKLAHOMA CITY – Entering Monday night with an opportunity to measure their progress against the Oklahoma City Thunder team that swept them out of the first round last season, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the rest of the Phoenix Suns seemed ready for the opportunity. Instead, the loss reinforced how much ground Phoenix still has to make up.
Oct 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix guard Devin Booker (15) drives around Oklahoma City guard Bennett Stirtz (14) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Even with Oklahoma City missing Jalen Williams following a gruesome ankle injury, the Suns struggled to consistently create quality opportunities while the Thunder generated offense with relative ease. The biggest contrast came from Devin Booker. After scoring 43 points and setting a franchise record for most points in a Suns home opener, Booker finished with just three points on 1-of-7 shooting Monday. Phoenix briefly cut Oklahoma City’s lead to 10 in the third quarter while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dealt with foul trouble, but the Suns never produced the sustained run necessary to seriously threaten the Thunder. The frustration eventually became visible.
Oct 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) defends during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Dillon Brooks gets technical foul in Suns’ loss to Thunder:
Dillon Brooks was assessed his first technical foul of the season after this exchange. https://t.co/hvONuYe861
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) October 27, 2026
With 6:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dillon Brooks and Aday Mara exchanged shoves before Kenrich Williams pushed Brooks. Brooks responded aggressively and was assessed a flagrant-one foul and a technical. That edge is part of what makes Brooks valuable. His willingness to agitate opponents and never back down gives Phoenix an identity it has lacked at times. But after Brooks dealt with a suspension last season because of his technical-foul accumulation, there is a line he cannot repeatedly cross.
Oct 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix guard Jalen Green (4) dunks in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Dix (21) during the first half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Phoenix needs his intensity available, not watching from the sideline. With Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro sidelined by injuries, the Suns are already operating without important frontcourt pieces. Monday showed Phoenix can compete in stretches, but against teams like Oklahoma City, stretches are not enough. Right now, the Suns look like a middle-tier team trying to prove they belong somewhere higher.
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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
