Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has sustained a mild right hamstring strain, the team announced Wednesday.
According to the team, an MRI revealed the injury, and there is no timetable for his return.
According to ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski, Booker is expected to miss Games 3 and 4 but could return later in this series.
The injury occurred in the third quarter of Phoenix’s 125-114 loss to the Pelicans in Game 2 of their first-round series. Booker scored all 31 points, including seven threes, in the first half.
New Orleans led Phoenix 77-74 with 4:35 left in the third when Booker exited with the injury. The Pelicans would outscore the Suns 48-40 the rest of the way and would win 125-114.
The series is tied at 1, and Game 2 is Friday night in New Orleans.
Booker missed seven games with a strained left hamstring injury during the regular season. Phoenix was 8-6 without Booker this season.
Hamstrings can be tricky, but hopefully, this is not an injury that will keep Booker out for an extended period. Phoenix’s only goal is a championship. They went to the NBA Finals last season and have the best record in basketball this season, so anything short of a title would be a disappointment.
Here’s also the issue, you can’t play “extra games” in the playoffs, and now the Suns will be playing at least an extra game and possibly more in this series.
It’s next man up for the Suns, so guys like Landry Shamet and Cam Johnson have to step up. New Orleans has the momentum, but Phoenix is still the better team, even without Booker.
However, winning this series has just gotten a little complicated for the Suns, but just like they have all season long, expect the Suns to play well without Booker.
Notes:
Chris Paul had his second consecutive double-double in this series as he finished with 17 points and 14 assists Tuesday night.
