Phoenix Suns start Landry Shamet, Cam Payne in place of Booker, Paul

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns had a mild surprise in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers, electing to start guards Cam Payne and Landry Shamet in place of Chris Paul (right thumb avulsion fracture) and Devin Booker (health and safety protocols).

The duo of Payne and Shamet joins the usual trio of Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder and Deandre Ayton.

Forward Cam Johnson started in Paul’s spot for the Suns’ first three games out of the All-Star break, but with Booker out as well, head coach Monty Williams went with a more traditional starting lineup.

Johnson, averaging 19.7 points per game in those three contests, gives the Suns some much-needed bench scoring in his usual role as sa reserve. That group has underperformed over that stretch.

Shamet, a fourth-year guard, is having the worst shooting season of his career. His field goal percentage (36.7%) and 3-point percentage (34.9%) are career lows. He was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets last offseason in exchange for the 29th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and guard Jevon Carter.

Shamet’s had a sporadic role in the rotation this season after Phoenix signed him to a four-year extension worth $43 million before he had even played for the Suns. He has played at least 20 minutes in under half of his 48 games. The starting lineup nod is a nice show of faith from Williams in Shamet despite his struggles this year.

In the Suns’ seven-game stretch without Booker in December, Shamet started in his place. He averaged 10.4 points across those seven appearances and shot 37.3% from the field.

Payne returns for Phoenix after missing 16 games because of a right wrist sprain.

The starting lineup could mean Williams rolls with both Aaron Holiday and Elfrid Payton in the reserve backcourt. He could also go more wing-heavy with Johnson, Torrey Craig and Ish Wainright taking up the off-ball spots. There’s also the potential of Williams digging into his center rotation beyond JaVale McGee with Bismack Biyombo. Maybe he gets a little weird and plays one of them with Ayton.

Wednesday will be the Suns’ first game without Booker and Paul due to injury since Paul arrived in November of 2020 from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Williams rested both of them for the regular season finale last year.

Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. and can be heard on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station

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