Chris Paul set to make Suns debut in preseason; Saric, Johnson, Payne out

After not playing in the Phoenix Suns’ preseason opener on Saturday against the Jazz, Chris Paul said he’s playing Monday night in Utah.

The point guard was listed as questionable on the injury report with right ankle soreness, the same ailment that had him out on Saturday, but the 35-year-old said after shootaround he will make his debut.

Phoenix stayed in Utah and will play the Jazz again on Monday, a new twist in the NBA schedule for the 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 pandemic that will see teams playing the same matchup in the same arena in back-to-back games.

Cam Payne started in Paul’s place. In 30 minutes, Payne was 4-of-10 from the field with eight points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Payne, however, is out with tendinopathy in his left knee. He joins forward Cam Johnson (left calf soreness) and Dario Saric (right quad soreness) in being out on the injury report.

Johnson came out of Saturday’s loss in the third quarter after an awkward fall and did not return with what head coach Monty Williams called a calf cramp. Williams said Johnson was fine both after the game Saturday and practice Sunday, so mark that one down for a precaution in the preseason.

Saric, meanwhile, misses his second straight preseason game.

Jae Crowder was not on the injury report, but that was also the case on Saturday when he did not play. Crowder had his first practice on Wednesday after attending to personal matters.

If Crowder, Johnson and Saric were all out, that’s seemingly the Suns’ first three options to start at the 4. That could mean rookie Jalen Smith getting the start or Mikal Bridges sliding down one spot to make way for wing Abdel Nader or a third guard alongside Paul and Devin Booker.

The Suns’ second preseason matchup with Utah tips off at 7:00 p.m. and you can listen live on Arizona Sports.

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