Three-time All-Star Devin Booker is in well being and security protocols, the Suns knowledgeable the media throughout Wednesday’s shootaround earlier than dealing with Portland (25-36) at Footprint Middle.
Booker wasn’t at shootaround.
“We knew this season was going to be loopy simply reason behind COVID alone,” Suns backup massive JaVale McGee mentioned. “Accidents occur. So it is simply one thing that you must undergo. Fortunately, we’re the perfect crew on the planet proper now. No less than we now have some house for error, just a bit bit.”
The Suns (49-12) have a 6-1/2 sport lead on the Warriors (43-19) for the perfect report within the West and are up seven on the Grizzlies (43-20), however will a minimum of be with out Booker for Wednesday’s sport.
The crew’s main scorer at 25.6 factors a sport has been enjoying level guard instead of fellow All-Star Chris Paul, who will seemingly miss the remainder of the common season with a fractured proper thumb.
This would be the first sport this season the Suns will not have Paul and Booker.
“With Chris out, that is 10, 11 assists on the market that must be collected,” McGee mentioned. “With Guide out, that is loads of factors that must be collected. So lots of people are going to have loads of alternative with each of them out, however we additionally must play sensible.”
At the second, Booker is the one Suns participant in protocols, crew officers mentioned. Booker practiced Tuesday. He examined optimistic for COVID-19 earlier than the season.
This season, gamers have needed to have consecutive unfavourable exams in an effort to return to motion. The Suns are in the course of a four-game homestand as they finish it Friday in opposition to New York (25-36) earlier than beginning a three-game highway journey Sunday in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks (37-25) in a rematch of final 12 months’s finals.
“You understand that it is perhaps a bit bit uncomfortable, however it’s making us higher and forcing us to cope with one thing now that’ll hopefully make us higher in the long term,” Suns guard Landry Shamet mentioned.
The Suns are set to have Cameron Payne again after the backup level guard missed 16 video games with a proper wrist sprain. He is listed as possible.
Williams has been beginning Cam Johnson instead of Paul and having Booker play the one. Now with Booker at present out for Wednesday night time’s sport, Williams might persist with Johnson beginning and having Payne begin at level guard.
Payne began in Sport 1 and a pair of of final 12 months’s Western Convention finals, scoring 29 factors in Sport 2 in serving to thee Suns take a 2-0 sequence lead over the Clippers.
Another choice is beginning Payne and Shamet within the backcourt and having Johnson come off the bench.
Have opinion about present state of the Suns? Attain Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Observe him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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