Devin Booker poised to spark Suns vs Lakers clash amid injury uncertainty
PHOENIX — As anticipation builds for the showdown between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center this Sunday, the spotlight is firmly on Devin Booker. The star guard, who has been sidelined for the last three games due to a groin injury, finds himself listed as questionable for the highly anticipated matchup.
Injury Reports Highlight Key Players
The injury reports from both teams reveal significant concerns. Alongside Booker, the Suns are also monitoring Dillon Brooks, who is dealing with left Achilles soreness. The Lakers, on the other hand, will be without Austin Reaves, who is nursing a left calf strain, and Maxi Kleber, who is suffering from a lumbar strain.
Booker’s Recovery Progress
Insights from Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic indicate that Booker is showing marked improvement following Saturday’s shootaround. Suns coach Jordan Ott noted that Booker has been able to participate fully in practice sessions leading up to Sunday’s game.
“He did practice with us. It’s always a good sign. Now we’ll see how he responds from this,” Ott commented. “It’s probably the most he’s done. We didn’t do player versus player; we did player versus coaches, but he was able to do everything.” Such progress bodes well for the Suns, who have noticeably struggled without their leading scorer. They have managed to score less than 100 points in two of the three games played without him.
“Responding well. That’s encouraging. No issues. Practiced today. Just see exactly how it responds,” Ott added, reflecting optimism about Booker’s potential return.
Team Dynamics and Recent Performances
The Suns enter this matchup with a record of 14-11, while the Lakers hold a stronger 17-7 record. The last encounter between these two teams saw the Lakers take the win, coinciding with Booker’s initial groin injury. Both teams have faced challenges recently, each recording a 1-2 record in their last three games.
This game serves as a consolation match for the NBA Cup, where the Suns fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Lakers were unable to overcome the San Antonio Spurs, preventing either team from advancing to Las Vegas.
Fast Facts Ahead of the Game
Luka Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring with an impressive average of 35 points per game while also ranking third in assists with nine per game. As a team, the Lakers boast the second-best field goal percentage in the league at 50.7%. Meanwhile, the Suns continue to excel defensively, leading the league in steals with an average of 10.8 per game.
Fans can expect tip-off to occur just past 6:00 PM MST in Phoenix, with the stakes high for both teams as they vie for crucial early-season momentum.
