Phoenix Suns’ Josh Okogie ruled out vs. Grizzlies due to nose injury

Phoenix Suns wing Josh Okogie was ruled out for the rest of Monday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies due to a nose injury.

In the second quarter, Okogie was making his way into the paint and was looking up at the basket ahead of a rebounding opportunity when he moved right into the path of Deandre Ayton’s right arm and elbow. Okogie got a slight touch in the back from Grizzlies center Steven Adams.

Okogie went down and stayed there while bleeding before going back to the locker room.

The fifth-year player has emerged in the last two months as one of the Suns’ more important reserves thanks to his defensive intensity and energy all over the floor. He was playing well on Monday with nine points and a rebound in nine minutes before exiting.

The Suns haven’t been able to avoid adding names to their injury report over a month-plus stretch where it has been a crowded list.

They recently got back Deandre Ayton and Landry Shamet from minor injuries but saw both Devin Booker (left groin strain) and Cam Payne (right foot sprain) re-injure themselves in January. Those two will be re-evaluated later in the month. Chris Paul (right hip soreness) missed his fifth straight game on Monday for a day-to-day injury while Cam Johnson is close to coming back from a right meniscus tear that has kept him out since early November.

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