Devin Booker feels ‘5 times better’ after missing 1st game of season

PHOENIX — Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker had his longest streak of consecutive games played in over two seasons to open up the 2019-20 campaign.

So after staying healthy that long, it must have made it upsetting when he missed his first game of the season on Saturday in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs due to a right forearm contusion.

“It was a good stretch. It’s been a long season,” Booker said Sunday of the opening 24-game run. He noted the Suns have had some tough bits in there, with five games in seven days, some back-to-backs and difficult opponents.

“I think a day of recovery, a day of rest [in the middle] of the season can help out a lot. I feel five times better than yesterday already but still trying to make sure it’s all the way right.”

The Suns didn’t go through a practice, so it’s unclear if Booker is a full go in that area yet after he missed it on Friday, but he did get shots up through individual work like everyone else on the team.

Head coach Monty Williams said they’re gonna check in on where he’s at to better evaluate if he can play on Monday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

On Sunday’s injury report, Booker was listed as questionable due to a right forearm contusion. That was the same listing Booker had on Friday before missing Saturday’s game.

A DISSERVICE

When Williams was asked about Booker’s status, he made sure to go out of his way to say that he was bothered by the technical foul his shooting guard was given from the bench in Mexico City.

“The league, I thought they did him a disservice last night with that technical foul. They misrepresented him, and as his coach, I’m not going to stand for that,” Williams said.

“We were told that Devin cussed out or cussed at, and that did not happen. Our people were right there and they all agree and listened and they said Devin didn’t cuss out anybody.”

With the context of when both Booker and Ricky Rubio were given technical fouls with 2:10 left and the Suns down four, it was a costly moment in a game that went to overtime.

“You have to be right. If you give two technical fouls in a situation like that, you better be right,” Williams said.

Booker said that was “correct” that he didn’t curse at anyone while making sure to own some of the blame as well.

“It’s very frustrating. But I take full responsibility for even being in any type of situation but it’s hard when you don’t say something and they accuse you of that,” he said.

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