Phoenix Suns forward Royce O’Neale didn’t play after his pregame workout on March 22, but it was a good sign in making a return to the floor.

The veteran forward is listed as probable with left knee soreness for the Tuesday, March 24, game against the Denver Nuggets at Mortgage Matchup Center. O’Neale has missed the last three games after playing in every previous one.

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The Suns (40-32) are seventh in the West, trailing the Nuggets (44-28) by four games for fifth.

Phoenix is also four games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves (44-28) for sixth and the Houston Rockets (43-27) for fourth.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks to pass against Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) celebrates after making a three-point shot against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Toronto Raptors forward/guard RJ Barrett (9) goes in for a layup against Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) in the first quarter at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

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Phoenix Suns host Toronto Raptors at Mortgage Matchup Center

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Justin Martinez shoots a free throw before the game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 22, 2026.

Phoenix has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Minnesota, 2-1, but the Nuggets and Rockets have the head-to-head tiebreakers over the Suns.

Denver is 2-0 versus the Suns with one matchup remaining in the regular season, while Houston is 3-0 against Phoenix. The Rockets and Suns meet one more time on April 7 in Kevin Durant’s return game.

“We put ourselves in a tough position to make it to that sixth now,” said All-Star Devin Booker, as the Suns dropped five straight games before beating the Toronto Raptors, 120-98, on March 22 to begin a four-game homestand. “Right now, we just need to focus on playing the right brand of basketball.”

The Suns are looking to get O’Neale back as Jordan Goodwin has started in his place, giving the team a four-guard look.

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Averaging 10 points on 37.9% shooting, going 6-of-17 from 3, and 7.3 rebounds in these three recent starts, the 6-3 Goodwin plays bigger than his height. But O’Neale, at 6-8, gives the Suns a bigger four as he’s started 64 of the 69 games he’s played this season.

“He does rebound well for his size,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott about O’Neale, who is averaging a career-high 9.9 points and 4.8 rebounds this season.

“It’s not only his size, it’s his leadership,” Ott continued. “It’s his spacing ability. It’s his end-of-game play. We just need it. We need all of those things.”

O’Neale is shooting 40.3% from 3 this season.

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Grayson Allen (left knee injury management) is listed as questionable as he’s missed Phoenix’s last four games. Ott said Allen was “close” to returning. He is averaging a career high of 17.2 points this season.

Dillon Brooks (left hand fracture), Mark Williams (left foot third metatarsal stress reaction), Haywood Highsmith (right knee injury management) and Amir Coffey (left ankle sprain) have been ruled out.

The Nuggets have just one player on their injury report in Peyton Watson (right hamstring injury management), who has been ruled out.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Royce O’Neale closer to return as Phoenix Suns face Nuggets