The Suns aren't expecting to have center Robin Lopez as they begin their postseason run.

Lopez has missed eight games with back issues.

"He's going to be evaluated [Monday], then we'll see from there what happens," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "He's making some progress, but we have to assume that he's not going to be with us. And then if he ends up being with us, then that would be a huge bonus for us."

Phoenix can finish no worse than fifth in the West, but could jump all the way up to the second seed.

The Suns are 6-2 without Lopez since he went down with the back injury.