Jordan Ott had a crucial decision to make before the Minnesota Timberwolves game. Two of his three best players were ruled out. Dillon Brooks was questionable. He’s been a tremendous addition to the Phoenix Suns’ lineup since the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, all while dealing with a nagging Achilles injury. Given the go-ahead to play today, Brooks had a near scare in the second quarter but returned to the game.

The Suns ended up winning 108-105 after a very close contest across four quarters. Ott played Brooks in every quarter despite concerns about his Achilles. He scored 18 points in 31 minutes of action. Reporters had to ask the Suns coach about the forward’s injury status after the game.

“We have to take a look,” Ott said of Brooks’ injury.

But Ott was pretty happy with Brooks’ performance in Minneapolis tonight.

The 29-year-old player was medically cleared to play in the pre-game workout, but the game-time decision was left to the coach. And he decided to include Brooks in the starting lineup. But this call nearly went sideways…

When the Suns had a narrow 72-71 lead, Jaden McDaniels blocked Dillon Brooks’ shot. After that play, Brooks abruptly left the court.

The Suns star went to the locker room without any staff assistance and, after a while, returned to the bench. He had eight points at that point. But he then played limited minutes in the second half and scored 10 more points. Not all of his shots were great, but Ott didn’t seem to mind.

Although Brooks made a decent 18-point contribution, he was a little off tonight. He was 7 of 20 from the field, 2 of 8 from the arc, and his shotmaking tonight had left Suns fans in a rage.

Why did Jordan Ott take a big risk with Dillon Brooks’ injury?

Dillon Brooks’ leaving mid-game may have stressed Ott, who also didn’t have Jalen Green and Devin Booker in the lineup.

“We go in mind to try to help him with his minutes best we can,” Ott said of Brooks’ situation. “I know we wanted to match him up there with [Julius] Randle as well.”

Ott mentioned being prepared to sub Brooks in when the team needed him. He appeared to play in spurts shorter than 10 minutes in every quarter, the fourth being his shortest. Fans may not have been thrilled, but the coach’s decision ensured the player didn’t aggravate an injury.

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Ott did admit he was nervous making that game-time decision.

“At shootaround, I wasn’t sure he was going to play,” Ott admitted. “Where we would be without him, I don’t think any of us want to even think about.”

In his first season with the Suns, Brooks has averaged 22.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game. He’s pulled through some injury scares, including tonight, but still brings his 100% to the court, which his coach claims is “something unique in the NBA.”

Maybe that’s why Ott took the risk of putting him in the game. But only the pending medical assessment will confirm if Brooks can play against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.