The Phoenix Suns are gearing up for a big one against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Footprint Center, and let’s be real—every win matters right now. Sitting at 26-26, they need to start stacking victories if they want to climb up the Western Conference standings. But, of course, injuries are making things way more complicated than they should be.

The good news? Kevin Durant is finally back. The bad news? Bradley Beal is still out. His toe sprain has now kept him sidelined for three straight games, and at this point, it’s starting to feel like there’s no real timeline for when he’ll be back. Is that all the ‘Valley’ has to be worried about, though?

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Beal’s absence is definitely rough, especially considering that this was originally just called soreness before it got upgraded to a sprain. That’s usually never a good sign, and now it looks like his recovery might take longer than anyone expected. Head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed Beal didn’t practice on Monday, which pretty much means he’s not close to returning just yet.

On the flip side, finally, some relief for Suns fans—Kevin Durant is back. After missing three games with an ankle sprain, he’s ready to hit the floor again. He went through full practice on Monday and didn’t hold back his excitement, saying, “I feel good… I was frustrated that I was injured and couldn’t play through the [trade rumor] noise… It’s good to get back on the floor.”

The Suns definitely missed him, going 1-2 in those three games, including a tough loss to Denver. His return? Absolutely massive.

And there’s even more good news—Grayson Allen is trending in the right direction. He sat out against Denver with knee soreness, but now he’s listed as probable, and Budenholzer sounded optimistic that he’ll be good to go. If he plays, that’s huge, because Allen’s three-point shooting has been one of the Suns’ biggest weapons this season.

On the downside, Cody Martin is still out with that sports hernia injury. The Suns are taking their time with his recovery, hoping to bring him back after the All-Star break when he’s fully healthy. Meanwhile, rookie Oso Ighodaro is heading back to the G League’s Valley Suns for more development.

So what do you think is next for the Suns? Will Durant’s return prove to be pivotal for their position in the conference? First, let’s look at the Suns’ depth.

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With Beal still out, it’s once again up to Durant and Devin Booker to handle most of the scoring. Not that Book has had any trouble with that lately—he torched Utah for 47 points in an overtime thriller the other night! (In Kobe’s words, Book ’em!) But with KD back, at least he won’t have to carry the entire offense on his shoulders. If Allen is able to play, his three-point shooting will space the floor and give Phoenix another legit scoring threat.

Beyond that, the Suns are going to need Eric Gordon and Jordan Goodwin to step up. Depth has been an issue all season, and that’s not changing anytime soon.

On the other side, the Grizzlies have their own superstar to worry about—Ja Morant. And when he’s on the court, he’s always a problem. He was dealing with some right shoulder soreness earlier this month, but it clearly didn’t slow him down too much. Just a few days ago against OKC, he was out there for 36 minutes, putting up 16 points and 7 assists like it was nothing.

For the season, he’s averaging 20.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, and we all know how dangerous he is when he gets going. His ability to blow past defenders, create shots, and completely shift a game’s momentum is what makes him so tough to deal with. If the Suns’ defense isn’t locked in, Morant could easily take over and make this a really long night for Phoenix.

The Suns are currently 10th in the Western Conference, barely hanging onto a play-in spot. Every single win matters right now, and taking down the second-seeded Grizzlies would be a massive confidence boost. Getting Durant back is a step in the right direction, but Beal being out is still frustrating.

For now, the Suns just have to keep grinding and hope Beal returns after the All-Star break because that final stretch of the season is going to be make or break. But first things first—they’ve got to handle business tonight.