PHOENIX SUNS

Suns’ Devin Booker could return Tuesday vs. Nets, ESPN’s Wojnarowski reports

Feb 1, 2023, 6:35 PM | Updated: 7:42 pm
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench during the second half of the NBA game a...
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns watches from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Miami Heat at Footprint Center on January 06, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Heat defeated the Suns 104-96. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Phoenix Suns are getting closer to being near whole again, as Devin Booker may return as soon as Tuesday night against the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.

Booker has not played since Christmas Day due to a left groin strain. He returned after a three-game absence on Dec. 25 against the Denver Nuggets before exiting the game early.

The Suns said Wednesday that he will be considered for a return each game day.

They are 8-10 without Booker since his last outing and 9-14 this season when the reigning First Team All-NBA guard has not played.

Booker built off his stellar 2021-22 season this year with 27.1 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game on 47.7% shooting.

Before missing three games, Booker dropped 58 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Footprint Center on Dec. 17.

Booker inferred in a tweet on Wednesday that his return was coming soon:

“I don’t want to miss any games,” Booker told reporters Wednesday. “The team has it rolling right now, playing really good basketball and I want to be a part of it.”

A Tuesday return would come during the midst of a five-game road trip before the Suns come back to the Valley to host the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 14. The trade deadline is during the trip on Feb. 9.

Phoenix enters a Wednesday night matchup with the Atlanta Hawks at 27-25, in the No. 7 seed of the Western Conference with the same record as the No. 6 seed Dallas Mavericks.

Phoenix received reinforcements recently with Chris Paul returning on Jan. 22 after missing seven games and Cameron Johnson coming back on Jan. 19 after he was out since Nov. 4.

The Suns are 4-1 with Paul back in the lineup.

It will be without guards Cam Payne (right foot sprain) and Landry Shamet (right foot soreness) on Wednesday, though, along with Booker.

The Suns and Hawks tip off at 8 p.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.

Phoenix Suns

Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against T.J. Warren #21 of th...
Associated Press

NBA, players agree on new multi-year labor agreement with in-season tournament

The league and its players reached a seven-year collective bargaining agreement Saturday, and ratification is expected to be a formality.
19 hours ago
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) motions after making a basket against the Denver Nuggets dur...
Kellan Olson

Durant returns to form, Suns drop level in win vs. shorthanded Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns had a great first half and a not so great second half on Friday in a win against the Denver Nuggets.
2 days ago
(Phoenix Suns Twitter photo)...
Wills Rice

Suns use early lead to hold on to win over injured Nuggets

The Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Denver Nuggets 100-93 on Friday at Footprint center behind Kevin Durant's 30 points.
2 days ago
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives the lane as Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis ...
Arizona Sports

Nikola Jokic, 3 other Nuggets out for clash vs. Suns

The Denver Nuggets list Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray among a group of key players as out on Friday against the Phoenix Suns.
2 days ago
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)...
Tom Kuebel

Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert fined for comments on officiating in Suns game

Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was fined $25,000 for comments made that criticized officiating after the team's 107-100 loss to the Suns.
2 days ago
(Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)...
Arizona Sports

How to watch the Suns, D-backs and Coyotes on Friday

It's going to be a busy night of athletics to end March with three of the Valley's four major sports teams in action on Friday.
2 days ago
Suns’ Devin Booker could return Tuesday vs. Nets, ESPN’s Wojnarowski reports