PHOENIX SUNS
Devin Booker out, Okogie and Landale available vs. Grizzlies; Desmond Bane starts
Dec 23, 2022, 7:49 PM | Updated: 8:05 pm
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guards Desmond Bane (22) and John Konchar (46) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Phoenix Suns guards Devin Booker and Cam Payne will not play Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, but reserves Josh Okogie and Jock Landale will be available, the team announced pregame.
For the Grizzlies, guard Desmond Bane was upgraded to questionable with a big toe injury and is in the starting lineup.
He’s been out since Nov. 11, and a potential return would give Memphis a serious boost.
Bane was putting together All-Star numbers over 12 games by averaging 24.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists. He’s shooting 47% from the field and 45% from three.
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Booker has missed the past two games with a groin issue. He had played the prior two games — wins against New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers — before that but missed the preceding two games to those he appeared in with a hamstring injury.
Booker leads the Suns in scoring (28.0 points per game) and is averaging 5.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds a night.
A foot injury has kept Payne out of the lineup for the past four games.
Okogie played 10 minutes Monday in a win against the Los Angeles Lakers but was sidelined with a hamstring injury that kept him out Tuesday in a loss to the Washington Wizards.
Landale has not played either of those games while in concussion protocols.
The Grizzlies will have two-way players Kenneth Lofton Jr. and Vince Williams Jr. available, while Kennedy Chandler and Jake LaRavia are also with the team. Those four players were on assignment with the Memphis Hustle for the G League Winter Showcase this week.
