Phoenix Suns to be without 4 starters vs. Kings, Bridges to play

The Phoenix Suns will be without four starters in the season finale against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

Chris Paul (right thumb injury management), Devin Booker (rest), Jae Crowder (sore ankle) and Deandre Ayton (rest) will all be all be absent from the court at Footprint Center, the team announced Sunday.

After completing the fourth quarter comeback against the Utah Jazz on Friday, four of the five starters will use an extra game off before the Suns begin their postseason run back to the NBA Finals.

The one starter that will be playing, of course, is Mikal Bridges.

Bridges is one of five players in the league to have not missed a game this season. He has also not missed a game in his collegiate or professional basketball career.

The other four players are Washington Wizards’ Deni Avdija, Detroit Pistons’ Saddiq Bey, Golden State Warriors’ Kevon Looney and Dallas Mavericks’ Dwight Powell who have all played or are expected to play in their team’s final game.

Phoenix will also be without Cam Payne for the second straight game on Sunday due to a sore knee, according to the team.

The No. 1 seed Suns will be waiting to see who they will match up against as the No. 8 seed, but they know it will be between the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs or New Orleans Pelicans.

Phoenix will find out their first round matchup when the play-in tournament concludes on Friday.

Catch the last game of the regular season as the Suns host the Sacramento Kings at 6:30 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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