Suns star Devin Booker has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and could miss two to three weeks, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Reports on Wednesday indicated that Booker was unlikely to play in Games 3 and 4 of Phoenix’s series against New Orleans — now it sounds like the injury could sideline him beyond that.
After scoring 31 points in the first half of the Suns’ Game 2 loss on Tuesday, Booker left the game in the third quarter due to the injury and didn’t return. Booker underwent an MRI on Wednesday and the Suns initially deemed it to be a mild hamstring strain, but were still evaluating the results.
As Windhorst explains, a typical recovery period for a player with a Grade 1 hamstring strain is between 14-21 days. However, sources tell ESPN that Pelicans head coach Willie Green is warning his players to expect Booker back sooner than that.
Booker missed seven games earlier this season due to a hamstring strain that affected his left leg. He also played through a hamstring injury during last year’s NBA Finals and has dealt with a few other hamstring issues over the years, though none have been too significant — this year’s seven-game absence was his longest stretch on the sidelines.
The top-seeded Suns, who went 8-6 this season without Booker, will still be favored over the Pelicans even without their leading scorer, but they don’t have a huge margin for error as they head to New Orleans with the series tied at one game apiece.
In 68 regular season games this season (34.5 MPG), Booker averaged 26.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.8 APG and 1.1 SPG on .466/.383/.868 shooting. He was outstanding during the team’s run to the Finals last season and carried that strong play into this postseason, averaging 28 PPG, 3.0 RPG and 4.5 APG on .526/.579/.833 shooting in the first two games of the series (32.5 MPG). Game 3 tips off at 8:30pm CT on Friday night.
Booker should not play against Pelicans no matter what. Let him heal. Suns still win in 6 gms.
The series is 1-1 with the Pelicans having beat the Suns in their own stadium when Booker played. What makes you think they’ll win in 6 without their best player?
If Booker is out for the series and the next 2 games are now in New Orleans I could see the Pelicans potentially going 3-1 up
Suns have won many games without Booker. And they are the one with the best record not to mention postseason experience. Everybody will step up.
Yes yes but the Pelicans still beat them in there last game and that was with Booker on the road..
Yes this Suns team is great and all but best of 7 series, without your best player. Having lost at home already it’s going to be a tough series
We will see about that SimmonsRuss, come back to the chat when the Suns beat the pelicans hater lol
How’s he a hater? He’s just giving his opinion, which to be honest, is pretty valid. Suns without Booker are actually kind of evenly matched with the Pels. Parity has shifted a lot within the NBA.
Suns will NOT win this series without Devin Booker. Not enough offense against New Orleans, a much improved team. Ingram, C.J. And Valanciunas give New Orleans enough offense to win this. Memphis to the NBA Finals!
Dont over react after 1 win. Many postseason series go 6-7 gms.
The one game is instructive… PHX won the Booker half, NOLA the nonBooker half.
Landry Shamet is not the same.
I am rooting for both teams… not sure how to take this news!
The next two games will be key, I’m predicting it’ll go to a game 7 but don’t be surprised to see the Pelicans go up 3-1 now they are going home and the Suns will be without Booker
The Frank Kaminsky curse.
Damn, CP3’s influence even extended to Booker … aka, getting injured in the playoffs
It’ll obviously be closer, but I’d expect Phoenix to still beat New Orleans.
The good news is, assuming they do, they’ll avoid the much tougher Memphis/Golden State until at least the WCF.
They could probably hold up for a portion of a series against Utah/Dallas until they get Booker back
If Booker is out for the series my thought is the pelicans will take the series. Mind you I’m home watching the games on tv not in a skybox for NBA execs