Bad news for Phoenix Suns fans: star shooting guard Devin Booker is out indefinitely.
The 25-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Game 2 of the NBA playoffs series between his Suns and the New Orleans Pelicans. After scoring 31 points in the first half of the game, Booker failed to score at all in the third quarter, when he tweaked his right hamstring after jumping to block a Jaxson Hayes dunk.
Following the tweak, Booker called a time-out and immediately left the game, locker room-bound. At the time, the Suns were trailing 77-74, and would end up losing the game to the Pelicans, 125-114, evening up the series at one win apiece.
Here's what our camera caught of Devin Booker's injury… Book throws a towel on the bench and whatever he said to Jae Crowder isn't good. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/ZcNiPAA7yz
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 20, 2022
“If we have to play without Book, next man up and we’ve done that all year long,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. The Suns were 8-6 without Booker this season.
At this point, no timetable has been set for Booker’s return, so he is out indefinitely. He is ruled out at least through Game 4 of the series, although the Suns were still waiting for MRI results on Wednesday, so the timetable could change once those results come in.
“We’ve got guys that are more than capable of stepping up,” fellow Suns star Chris Paul said. “Book was killing. He was having a big-time game, but, it is what it is.”
The right hamstring strain is believed to be mild and Devin Booker isn't being ruled out of this opening-round series vs. New Orleans, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/mFr2XIr25s
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2022
This is, notably, not the first time Booker has had hamstring issues. Back in November, he missed seven games after straining his left hamstring on a similar play. In last year’s NBA Finals, Booker injured his hamstring in Game 3, but played through the injury without telling anybody. And in January 2021, he strained his left hamstring and missed four games.
“We’re going to be ready,” Suns wing Mikal Bridges said. “That’s our brother. Hope everything goes right, but I know everybody is ready to step up. So we’ll be ready.”
What do you think of Booker’s hamstring injury, and how soon do you think he will make a return? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
