Suns Adjust Rotation to Counter Blazers' Size in Play-In Game

Phoenix looks to its bench players to match up with Portland's physical frontcourt.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 6:55pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting fragmented basketball players and court elements, representing the strategic battle between the Suns and Blazers' frontcourts.The Suns' ability to match the Blazers' size and physicality could determine the outcome of their high-stakes play-in game.Phoenix Today

The Phoenix Suns enter tonight's crucial play-in matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers facing a potential size mismatch. After struggling against bigger teams to end the regular season, the Suns may need to adjust their rotation and give more minutes to young bigs Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming to counter Portland's physical frontcourt.

Why it matters

The Suns' ability to match up with Portland's size could determine the outcome of this high-stakes play-in game, which will decide which team advances to the NBA playoffs. Phoenix has had trouble containing Blazers center Donovan Clingan, and the team's smaller lineups may struggle to control the boards against a physical Portland squad.

The details

Suns coach Jordan Ott has relied on a tight seven-man rotation to end the regular season, but that may change with Grayson Allen expected to miss the game with a hamstring injury. Ott could turn to Maluach and Fleming, the team's two biggest frontcourt players, to provide more size and rim protection against the Blazers. Maluach has proven to be an elite shot-blocker, while Fleming's physicality could also be valuable.

  • The play-in game is scheduled for tonight, shortly after 7:00 p.m. MST.
  • Grayson Allen is not expected to play due to a left hamstring injury.

The players

Jordan Ott

Head coach of the Phoenix Suns.

Mark Williams

Starting center for the Phoenix Suns.

Oso Ighodaro

Backup center for the Phoenix Suns.

Khaman Maluach

Rookie forward/center for the Phoenix Suns known for his elite rim protection.

Rasheer Fleming

Rookie forward for the Phoenix Suns who could provide physicality against the Blazers.

Donovan Clingan

Starting center for the Portland Trail Blazers who has dominated the Suns this season.

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What they’re saying

“I think at this point as long as we have all hands on deck, and that's where we're at, we're in a good place. These guys ... have been adaptable all season long. Now it's just your habits. Your habits are going out, playing hard. We know how we want to play, so (with) that we're in a good place.”

— Jordan Ott, Head Coach, Phoenix Suns

What’s next

The winner of tonight's Suns-Blazers play-in game will advance to the NBA playoffs as the 8th seed in the Western Conference.

The takeaway

The Suns' ability to counter Portland's size and physicality could be the key factor in determining the outcome of this high-stakes play-in matchup. If Phoenix's smaller lineups struggle, coach Ott may need to turn to young bigs Maluach and Fleming to provide a needed boost inside.