Devin Booker is not returning to the Spurs game due to injury
The Phoenix Suns were hoping to start the second half of the season on a high note, but those plans hit a major roadblock on Thursday night.
Devin Booker, the heartbeat of the Suns offense, shut down early in a high-stakes Western Conference showdown against the San Antonio Spurs. The team later confirmed that the five-time All-Star will not return due to soreness in his right hip, leaving a huge void in the lineup.
Before an injury cut his night short, the Phoenix Suns guard was trying to find it his pace after the All-Star break. Booker checked out, playing just 9 minutes, finishing with five points and 1 rebound. He struggled to find his shot from deep, going 0-of-2 from beyond the arc, but was active at the rim and charity stripe to keep the Suns competitive early on.
After the break, the Suns (32-24) are in a tight race to avoid the play-in tournament. Facing a red-hot San Antonio Spurs team that entered the night on a seven-game winning streak, the Suns were already shorthanded with Dillon Brooks serving a one-game suspension.
With Booker out, the burden shifted heavily to Jaylen Green and Mark Williams. The Spurs took full advantage of Booker’s absence, fueled by dominant performances from Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell, who all scored 20+ points in the third quarter. The Spurs pull away with an 89-63 lead at the Moody Center in the third quarter.
The focus now shifts to the severity of Booker’s hip problem. He’s already dealt with it management of right ankle injuries during February, and any extended absence from the Suns’ leading scorer, who is averaging 25.2 points per game, could be disastrous for their seeding hopes.
The Suns are quickly returning to action, and the Valley will be holding my breath for an update about their superstar status.
2026-02-20 03:04:00
