Suns star Devin Booker scored 31 points in the first half of Game 2 before coming out with a hamstring injury.
All-Star Phoenix Suns goalkeeper Devin Booker is out indefinitely after suffering an injury to his right hamstring in Game 2 of the Phoenix First Round with the New Orleans Pelicans, the team announced today. According to Suns, Booker has a slight sprain of the right hamstring and “no schedule for his return.”
Booker suffered an injury on Tuesday in Game 2, which the Suns lost 125-114, tying a 1-1 draw. Game 3 of the series is Friday (9:30 ET, ESPN) and Game 4 is Sunday (9:30 ET, TNT), both in New Orleans.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Booker is “unlikely” to play in the next two games, but may return during the series.
The sprain of the right hamstring is thought to be mild and Devin Booker is not ruled out of this first round against New Orleans, ESPN sources said.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2022
Booker was spectacular in the first half on Tuesday, finishing with 31 points (shooting 12 against 19) before suffering an injury and leaving the game in the third quarter.
In possession, before leaving, Booker jumped to challenge a quick stabbing of Jackson Hayes of New Orleans, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured. The Suns were 77-74 behind by 4 minutes and 35 seconds until the end of the quarter when he left.
Devin Booker appears to have suffered a hamstring injury while challenging Jaxson Hayes’ dunk in Game 2.
Landry Shamet, who did not play in Game 1 of the series, replaced Booker and finished with five points in a 2-on-3 shooting in 11 minutes.
Booker returned in the early fourth quarter with a warm-up and never re-entered the game. He missed several games earlier in the season with a thigh injury.
There wasn’t much update after the game on how long Booker would be out, as he needed an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. Suns guard Chris Paul said the injury was no excuse for losing Match 2.
How will Devin Booker’s injury affect the series between Pelicans and Suns?
“We have guys who are more than capable of getting stronger,” Paul said. “The book was killing. He had a great game, but that’s what it is. “
Booker, who will secure some votes for Kia’s MVP this season, was instrumental in Phoenix’s 110-99 victory in Match 1, scoring 25 points along with eight rebounds and six assists.
This is the second playoff appearance in Booker’s career, after helping the Suns reach the finals last season – the first for the franchise since 1993. In total, he has an average of 28 points, three rebounds and 4.5 assists in the playoffs after scored 26.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 4.8 apg during the regular season.
“If we have to play without Buk, he’s the next person and we’ve been doing it all year,” Williams said after the game, according to Dwayne Rankin of the Republic of Arizona.
This report uses information from the Associated Press.
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