Suns G Devin Booker returns for Tuesday’s game vs. Grizzlies, Ja Morant out

Phoenix Suns star shooting guard Devin Booker will return for Tuesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Booker has missed the last five games with a left groin strain he suffered on Dec. 19 against the Indiana Pacers. He has put up 25.1 points and 6.4 assists per game this season, and the Suns have gone 1-4 in his absence (15-16 overall).

Wing Royce O’Neale (left ankle sprain) is out for the first time this season, while Grayson Allen is also out. Allen was initially listed as probable in his return from concussion protocol but now has left shoulder soreness.

Allen has missed the last four games, while O’Neale went down during Phoenix’s loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Starting center Jusuf Nurkic will not play, as he was suspended three games for a scuffle with Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall on Friday night.

Additionally, big man Bol Bol is back after he was sidelined with a left knee contusion.

Grizzlies’ Ja Morant out vs. Suns

Memphis ruled star point guard Ja Morant out against Phoenix with a right AC joint sprain. Morant has averaged 21.2 points and 7.9 assists per game this season for the 22-11 Grizzlies, who are second in the Western Conference.

The Grizzlies will be severely compromised by injuries beyond Morant. Five of their top nine players in minutes per game have been ruled out.

Santi Aldama (ankle sprain), Marcus Smart (partial extensor hood tear), Zach Edey (concussion protocol), Brandon Clarke (soleus strain), Vince Williams Jr. (ankle sprain), GG Jackson (metatarsal repair), Yuki Kawamura (shoulder soreness) and Jake LaRavia (ankle sprain) will be unavailable.

The Suns-Grizzlies game will tip off at Footprint Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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