Deandre Ayton in, Devin Booker out for Suns; Lakers without Anthony Davis, LeBron James
Dec 19, 2022, 5:18 PM | Updated: 6:21 pm
Deandre Ayton #22 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on October 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 107-105. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns announced pregame on Monday that center Deandre Ayton will be available to play against the Los Angeles Lakers. Ayton had been listed as questionable with a left ankle sprain on the team’s injury report.
Phoenix had already listed Devin Booker as out, while Los Angeles ruled out All-Stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Booker popped up on the injury report Sunday night with groin soreness.
He is two games removed from returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of two games. On Saturday, he scored a season-high 58 points over 42 minutes in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Booker is averaging 28.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field.
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Ayton has missed the last two Suns games, both wins, after spraining his left ankle Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.
He’s averaging 17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per outing on 62% shooting.
Joining Booker as out for Phoenix (18-12) on Monday are backup center Jock Landale (concussion protocol), backup point guard Cam Payne (right foot strain) and guard Duane Washington Jr. (hip strain).
Also sidelined are forwards Cameron Johnson (knee surgery recovery) and Jae Crowder (not with team).
The Suns only have 10 players active against the Lakers on Monday: Ayton, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Landry Shamet, Bismack Biyombo, Josh Okogie, Damion Lee, Dario Saric and Ish Wainright.
As for the Lakers, Davis on Friday suffered a right foot injury and could miss a month or more, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. He joins forward James (ankle soreness) and guards Austin Reaves (ankle sprain) and Russell Westbrook (left foot soreness) as out.
James has topped 36 minutes in the past six games, surpassing 43 minutes twice in that span.
Patrick Beverley (right calf soreness) is questionable.
Los Angeles (13-16) had found momentum behind a healthy Davis of late, going 11-6 after a 2-10 start.
Davis is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.3 steals on 59% shooting over 25 games played.
