The Poenix Suns managed to get the better of the Orlando Magic in a double overtime thriller on Saturday, but the good vibes around Jalen Green's game winner were short lived.
Shams Charania of ESPN posting soon after the victory that Dillon Brooks had broken his left hand earlier in that same game, and will be out indefinitely.
Brooks injury huge blow to Suns' playoff hopes
It was mere days ago when we said that the Suns would fail to make the postseason if injury luck kept going against them, and it took only one game for that to come true.
Brooks has been the emotional heartbeat of this group all season, having a career year and playing at an All-Star level.
Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks has sustained a broken left hand and will be sidelined, sources tell ESPN. Doctors will meet to determine a timetable. Brooks is a key part to the playoff-contending Suns, averaging 21+ points and 3+ rebounds this season. Difficult injury blow. pic.twitter.com/x00of8NR7H
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 22, 2026
To lose him at this crucial point in the campaign is cruel, particularly given the Canadian international was proving the doubters wrong every night with his performances.
It is incredibly hard to put a positive spin on this news, but there are two ways of looking at this which still appear favorable for the Suns.
The first is that there is every chance that, assuming the Suns can hang on in the playoff race even through the play-in tournament, Brooks could be back in time for a seven game series.
Breaks are more straightforward to heal from compared to ligament and tendon damage, again a small victory here but this is the kind of thinking you have to cling onto.
It is also possible that head coach Jordan Ott, himself an X-factor for the organization this season, uses Brooks going down as a way to bring the team together with an "us against the world" mentality.
Even if Brooks doesn't play again this season, this group has shown countless times in the past that they have guys who can step up and exceed expectations when required.
It seemed apt that Grayson Allen would lead the Suns in scoring with 27 points in the win over the Magic, having bounced back from an ankle sprain earlier than anticipated.
He has been the guy to consistently step in when bigger names such as Bradley Beal have gone down across three seasons in Phoenix, and this game was no exception.
With Devin Booker also missing and Brooks playing seven minutes before exiting, who else but Allen off the bench to prove that this roster has the sneaky depth and resiliance to keep plugging away.
Brooks breaking his hand is a nightmare, and it is simply not fair for a roster that has been better than expected all season. That's not going to step them trying to make the playoffs.