PHOENIX SUNS

Suns resting Devin Booker, Chris Paul for regular season finale

May 16, 2021, 10:30 AM

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Suns are planning to rest guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul, as Phoenix will conclude their 2020-21 regular season against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Phoenix will also play small forward Mikal Bridges on limited minutes against the Spurs, head coach Monty Williams said via Zoom.

“We’re just trying to do what we feel like is best for our guys,” Williams told reporters. “We haven’t rested guys this year, but we’ve had a number of injuries where guys have been off.”

Booker and Paul have played the majority of the season for Phoenix as they have led the Suns to one of the best records in the NBA and a top playoff seed in the Western Conference.

The starting backcourt for the Suns have only missed a combined total of five games for Phoenix this year.

Center Deandre Ayton will also sit out for the third straight game as he continues to to deal with soreness in his left knee.

With three starters out of the Suns’ lineup and Bridges playing on limited minutes, Phoenix still has a chance to clinch the best record in the NBA and the No. 1 seed in the West.

In order to do so, Phoenix will need to defeat the Spurs and the Utah Jazz have to lose their game against the Sacramento Kings.

“Obviously, you’re wanting to play the same way no matter who you put on the floor. And that’s just something we’ve stressed,” Williams said. “We’re going to hold a couple guys today.”

The Suns head coach went on to say that he expects his squad to show great competitiveness and body movement during the last game of the season.

“You’d like to have a great spirit about your team in the last game of the season, with everything that these guys have accomplished,” Williams said. “You want to be able to finish the season the right way.”

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