Suns guard Devin Booker won’t play at Lakers due to hip injury
Feb 5, 2018, 2:39 PM
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) is fouled by Charlotte Hornets' Cody Zeller as he drives to the basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
PHOENIX – Playing with sore ribs is one thing. Playing with a sore hip is quite another. And right now, the Phoenix Suns aren’t taking any chances, at least not when it comes to starting point guard Devin Booker.
The Suns have ruled out Booker for Tuesday’s game at the Los Angeles Lakers with a left hip injury.
“We’ll see tomorrow how I feel but not feeling too good right now,” Booker said Monday before the team headed for the airport.
Booker did not practice Monday.
On Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets, Booker hurt himself playing defense. As Cody Zeller was driving toward the basket late in the fourth quarter, he kneed Booker, who immediately fell to the ground and grabbed at his left hip area.
Not long after, at the 6:26 mark, Booker took himself out of the game and did not return.
The injury was diagnosed as a left hip pointer.
“They know what’s best for me” Booker said, referring to the Suns’ training staff. “At the end of the day, if I feel like I do right now tomorrow — it’s not something that hurts a little bit that I could play through so right now I physically couldn’t play if I tried to.”
The Lakers game is the first of a back-to-back set. The Suns return home to play the next night against the San Antonio Spurs. It’s very likely Booker misses that game as well.
“Obviously, this league is cruel. If you’re a little bit under 100-percent, someone is going to exploit you,” interim head coach Jay Triano said. “We’ll take all that into consideration.”
Booker is the Suns’ leading scorer (24.1 points per game) and No. 1 playmaker, averaging 4.9 assists. Without him, the Suns are expected to start Tyler Ulis at point guard with Josh Gray serving as the backup.
Booker has missed 11 games this season due to various injuries: left adductor strain (nine), right great toe inflammation (one) and right rib contusion (one).
And though he was not selected to participate in the All-Star Game, Booker was chosen to compete in the Three-Point Contest during All-Star Saturday Night. Whether that remains the plan will likely be determined with how Booker feels leading up to the event.
“I hope not. I hope it’s not that long. That’s two weeks from now,” he said. “But you never know. It does hurt really bad right now but it’s part of basketball.”
