Three-time All-Star Devin Booker is in well being and security protocols, the Suns knowledgeable the media throughout Wednesday’s shootaround earlier than going through Portland (25-36) at Footprint Heart.
Booker wasn’t at shootaround.
“We knew this season was going to be loopy simply explanation for COVID alone,” Suns backup huge JaVale McGee stated. “Accidents occur. So it is simply one thing that you must undergo. Fortunately, we’re the very best workforce on the planet proper now. A minimum of we’ve got some area for error, just a bit bit.”
The Suns (49-12) have a 6-1/2 recreation lead on the Warriors (43-19) for the very best document within the West and are up seven on the Grizzlies (43-20), however will at the least be with out Booker for Wednesday’s recreation.
The workforce’s main scorer at 25.6 factors a recreation has been taking part in level guard instead of fellow All-Star Chris Paul, who will possible miss the remainder of the common season with a fractured proper thumb.
This would be the first recreation this season the Suns will not have Paul and Booker.
“With Chris out, that is 10, 11 assists on the market that must be gathered,” McGee stated. “With Guide out, that is a number of factors that must be gathered. So lots of people are going to have a number of alternative with each of them out, however we additionally need to play good.”
At the second, Booker is the one Suns participant in protocols, workforce officers stated. Booker practiced Tuesday. He examined optimistic for COVID-19 earlier than the season.
This season, gamers have needed to have consecutive damaging exams to be able to return to motion. The Suns are in the midst of a four-game homestand as they finish it Friday towards New York (25-36) earlier than beginning a three-game highway journey Sunday towards the Milwaukee Bucks (37-25) in a rematch of final yr’s finals.
“You already know that it is perhaps a little bit bit uncomfortable, nevertheless it’s making us higher and forcing us to take care of one thing now that’ll hopefully make us higher in the long term,” Suns guard Landry Shamet stated.
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 presently out for Wednesday evening’s recreation, Williams might persist with Johnson beginning and having Payne begin at level guard.
Payne began in Sport 1 and a couple of of final yr’s Western Convention finals, scoring 29 factors in Sport 2 in serving to thee Suns take a 2-0 sequence lead over the Clippers.
An alternative 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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