The Phoenix Suns will sit guard Devin Booker and center Deandre Ayton for rest Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Monty Williams told reporters.

Forward Jae Crowder is listed out with right ankle soreness.

This is the first case of Phoenix resting players for non-injury reasons this season. The Suns have the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and top record in the NBA wrapped up, so balancing rest and ramp up to the playoffs is a primary goal.

There are only five games left on the slate — one back-to-back — and the Suns will get nearly another week off while the play-in tournaments commence. The playoffs begin on April 16.

Point guard Chris Paul will play as he continues to work up his conditioning after missing 15 games with a fractured thumb. He played 32 minutes on Friday in Phoenix’s 122-114 loss against the Memphis Grizzlies, his fourth game since returning.

A first this season. Well deserved for those 3.

CP3 has said after his first couple of games back how his wind isn’t where he wants it so I assume that’s why he’s playing. https://t.co/YQlXtZ61ov

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) April 2, 2022

Forward Mikal Bridges is also slated to play and keep his streak of not having missed a game in the NBA alive.

The Suns take on the Thunder in Oklahoma at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

You can tune in on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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