Suns' Dillon Brooks should know better after NBA Cup game ejection

The Dillon Brooks experience was on full display to open Emirates NBA Cup play Friday night, Oct. 30.

The fiery Phoenix Suns forward was putting on an offensive masterclass against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 20 points in the first half alone to keep Phoenix within striking distance despite the Suns’ new norm of porous defense allowing 71 points through two quarters of play.

Dillon Brooks ejected from NBA Cup game, dooms Suns

But in the third quarter, Brooks kicked out his leg on a turnaround jump shot against Jamal Murray. The result was a shot to Murray’s groin area, which, upon review, resulted in a flagrant-two foul on Brooks, who was then ejected from the game.

Whether you disagree with the call or not, the result is the same, and Brooks has to know better. On reputation alone, Brooks is going to be policed more closely by NBA referees. Brooks led the league in technical fouls with 17 a season ago and finished tied for third with four flagrant fouls. It was an Achilles heel of this team a season ago, and it remains firmly in place to begin 2026-27.

This is who Dillon “The Villain” Brooks is, and it’s not something the Suns can afford when they’re struggling to create team chemistry with a healthy Jalen Green and trade acquisition Miles Bridges.

Phoenix was without their leading scorer from the first half the rest of the way, and they ultimately lost the opening NBA Cup game 127-120 to Denver on their home court.

Bridges had his best game statistically as a member of the Suns, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal, but being without Brooks really hurt Phoenix down the stretch.

Making matters worse, Brooks was already playing with three personal fouls at the time of his ejection. Even if the call wasn’t ultimately ruled a flagrant two, Brooks effectively picked up a fourth personal foul and would have needed to head to the bench anyway.

Brooks remains the culture setter and spiritual leader of this Suns team, but Phoenix no longer has enough roster depth to compensate when he’s sent to the locker room early. In order to truly cement a leadership role out on the court, Brooks must find a way to keep his emotions in check and avoid these types of incidents.

Again, even if you believe it was a bad call, Brooks can’t continue to put officials in a position that compromises the rest of the team.

Phoenix left to pick up the pieces after NBA Cup loss

With the loss, the Suns now fall to 1-3 on the season and 0-1 in NBA Cup play.

There were some positives to take away, such as the defense Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach played on three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to force him into committing five turnovers. The defense overall, however, remains an eyesore.

Christian Braun went ballistic by sinking all six of his 3-point attempts in the first half. Suns coaches can only tip their cap to Braun, but Phoenix still allowed the Nuggets as a team to shoot 20-of-38 (53 percent) from distance.

They’re simply not going to win games with any sort of consistency if they can’t defend the 3-point shot — with or without Brooks in tow.

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