Suns forward Cam Johnson exits loss to Blazers with knee injury

Nov 4, 2022, 7:47 PM | Updated: 11:02 pm

Phoenix Suns forward Cameron Johnson (23) is fouled by Minnesota Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns forward Cam Johnson exited during the first quarter of Friday night’s 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center.

Suns head coach Monty Williams did not have an update on Johnson postgame.

The 26-year-old was seen hobbling and went over to Williams during a Phoenix possession signaling what looked to be a request for a sub.

Phoenix center Deandre Ayton — who made his return after missing the last two games due to an ankle injury — hit a jab-step jumper before Johnson took a foul on defense to get checked out by the training staff.

Cam Johnson is out for the rest of the game with a knee injury after he went to the locker room midway through the first quarter. Here is what Al McCoy and Tim Kempton saw. pic.twitter.com/FimLYvpyOz

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) November 5, 2022

Johnson has been playing his best basketball early on in the 2022-23 season.

Coming into Friday night’s matchup, he was averaging 14.9 points, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game (all career highs) in addition to 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7% from the floor, a 44% from three (career high) and 72.7% from the free throw line.

The No. 11 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of North Carolina had also been on a three-game streak of setting season highs for points scored after putting up 16, 19 and 29 in Phoenix’s last three contests, respectively.

However, the forward finished Friday night with only one assist while going 0-for-2 from the floor (0-for-1 from deep) in just over five minutes played.

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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges during a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul during a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker warms up before a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges warms up before a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul warms up before a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton warms up before a 108-106 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 4, 2022. (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)

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