Week two of the 2026-27 season is already here for the Phoenix Suns.

The first week saw an incredibly uneven product take shape, but there's two opportunities for the team to turn things around in the days ahead. 

Read more on what's at stake for the Suns over the next two games below. 

The unfortunate reality of the Suns-Thunder matchup is that both teams will be at less than full strength. 

A brutal late-game injury to Jalen Williams on Sunday night automatically shifts the chemistry of the Thunder roster. As for the Suns, center Oso Ighodaro is doubtful for the game due to an oblique strain.

Regardless of the outside circumstances, this is a major chance for the Suns to prove that they are back on track. 

Phoenix was able to defeat the Thunder once in the regular season in 2025-26, but the latter took control of the four playoff matchups.

What do the Suns have to overcome? Right on the front end is Oklahoma City's versatile and ferocious defense. The defensive setup of Mark Daigneault's team lends potential for Phoenix starters Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Khaman Maluach to cough the ball up frequently.

A win here would establish that this rendition of Suns basketball is still shooting for more. It would serve as a wake-up call to a league that is possibly overlooking the franchise once again.

The Suns haven't had much fortune against the Nuggets in recent years - particularly last season. 

Denver won the regular season series 3-0 in 2025-26 behind heroics from Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and others. Unfortunately for Denver, this rendition of the franchise appears much weaker overall. The losses of Tim Hardaway Jr., Peyton Watson, and others seem to be impacting operations. 

However, a team that employs Jokic will always own a high record floor. It also benefits the Nuggets that Jokic will test Maluach early and often. 

This is clearly another key chance for Ott and the Suns to assert themselves as a real threat to steal a top-six seed in the West. Expect Devin Booker to once again take advantage of a weakened Nuggets' defensive infrastructure to create plentiful offensive opportunities for his teammates.

Ultimately, this week creates a great number of avenues for the Suns to assert themselves - the standings, league-wide perception, and in building inner-confidence for a roster still figuring out how to work together.