The Phoenix Suns might have to face the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, on Friday night without their standout guard, Devin Booker.
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The Phoenix Suns might have to face the defending NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets, on Friday night without their standout guard, Devin Booker. During Wednesday’s 112-105 defeat against the Toronto Raptors on the road, Devin Booker suffered a right ankle sprain in the third quarter. Despite returning to the game post-injury, his performance was noticeably hindered, resulting in a season-low eight points scored on 2-of-12 shooting in a 33-minute appearance.
After the game, Booker hinted that he might sit out the upcoming home match against Denver, and Phoenix has officially labeled him as questionable for the game. Other notable players, including Suns star Kevin Durant, share concerns that Booker might be sidelined for a period.
For the Suns, Allen (illness), Beal (back injury), Lee (knee injury), and Little (personal reasons) will not be playing the game due to injuries. As for the Nuggets, Cancar and Gordon will be sitting this one out due to knee and heel injuries respectively.
When Jamal Murray has been on the court this season, Denver boasts an impressive 7-1 record, but they faced a more challenging 6-5 record in the 11 games he missed. In a stellar performance against the Rockets, Nuggets’ standout Nikola Jokic notched his seventh triple-double of the season and the 112th of his career, contributing 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists. Notably, Jokic had to sit out the previous Monday’s road victory against the Los Angeles Clippers due to back pain.
Capitalizing on Jokic’s precise distributing skills against Houston, forward Michael Porter Jr. emerged as a primary recipient, achieving season highs with 30 points and connecting on seven 3-pointers. Additionally, he showcased his prowess on the boards by securing 10 rebounds.
Before the setback against the Raptors, the Suns had achieved a season-high winning streak of seven consecutive games. Following the home matchup against Denver, they face another challenge with a game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday.
In the game against Toronto, Durant showcased his scoring prowess by putting up 30 points, extending his streak of reaching that mark to six consecutive games. Despite this, Durant experienced a dip in shooting efficiency, going 11-of-30 against the Raptors after an impressive 60.6 percent success rate (60 of 99) in his previous five games.
The Suns benefited from a strong performance by their big man, Jusuf Nurkic, who contributed with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists. Impressively, Nurkic has secured 10 or more rebounds in five of the last six games.
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