04/23/24 11:19:00
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04/23 23:17 CDT Suns guard Grayson Allen aggravates ankle injury vs.
Timberwolves. Phoenix falls into 0-2 hole
Suns guard Grayson Allen aggravates ankle injury vs. Timberwolves. Phoenix
falls into 0-2 hole
By DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) --- Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen aggravated the sprained
right ankle he suffered in the series opener, forcing him to hobble off in the
third quarter of Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday --- and
again putting his availability in question.
Allen had X-rays on his ankle, as he did after the injury in Game 1. There's no
fracture, coach Frank Vogel said after the Suns' 105-93 loss, only a return of
the day-to-day status next to Allen's name. The team had listed Allen, who led
the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage this season, as questionable. Before the
game, Vogel praised Allen's toughness and determination to play.
Allen said he "rolled it pretty good," but with another two-day break --- Game
3 is in Phoenix on Friday --- there was optimism that the sixth-year
sharpshooter could rehabilitate his way back onto the court.
"We'll see how it goes after two days of treatment," Allen said.
The Suns offense was just as much in need of some rest, ice, elevation and
compression.
The big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to shoot
18 for 45, with Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels leading a relentless effort on the
perimeter to keep them from getting going and Rudy Gobert lurking in the lane
to deter or alter the close-range attempts.
"We could play a little faster, get out in transition, but that comes with
getting stops," Durant said.
The Suns built a modest eight-point lead in the second quarter and had a 51-50
edge at halftime, before the Wolves found another level offensively and the
crowd got going.
"We didn't keep our composure," Vogel said.
Booker had 20 points on 6-for-13 shooting, a slight uptick from Game 1, but he
had six turnovers --- and six fouls.
"We can't let the refs distract our focus. The refs didn't beat us. The
T-wolves did, OK?" Vogel said. "We got some bad calls, but that happens in
every game. That happens both ways."
Allen was guarding Mike Conley on a drive to the lane when he went airborne to
try to block the shot and landed awkwardly on his right leg. Allen had to be
helped away from the court and into the locker room.
Allen went 0 for 3 from the floor in 25 minutes with four points in Game 1. He
was 1 for 2 in 17 minutes with three points in Game 2.'
"The NBA playoffs will test your emotional stability," Vogel said. "We've got
to make sure, as this is our first time going through this together as a group,
when we face adversity we've got to respond to it."
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