Devin Booker, Kristaps Porzingis out for tonight’s Celtics at Suns matchup
Pheonix star player Devin Booker has been ruled out of tonight’s game against the Celtics, according to Suns coach Frank Vogel, after initially being labeled as questionable.
Vogel described Booker’s pregame performance as “he responded well (to yesterday’s practice).” “He worked out for a long time this morning in an attempt to loosen it up, but it’s not quite there.”
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring tightness) is out for Boston. Porzingis was added to the injury report as questionable today. Jaylen Brown (sacroiliac sprain) and Jayson Tatum (right ankle impingement) are available. Brown was questionable, while Tatum was probable.
Because of a right ankle sprain he sustained in the final minute of the Rockets’ victory last Saturday, Booker will now have missed four straight games.
Vogel stated, “We’re happy with where he’s at” in reference to Booker. “We don’t anticipate it lasting very long. You never know how awful an ankle is going to be until you first see it. Those things can sometimes last three or four weeks, so maybe he’s close.
Vogel said yesterday Booker would likely be listed as doubtful, but then he was upgraded to questionable. Booker was also observed getting up shots after practice yesterday, and Vogel said this was the first time he had done any on-court work since the injury.
After tomorrow’s game, the Suns start a four-game road trip beginning at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Vogel has said Booker will travel with the team on this trip.
“He’s day-to-day,” Vogel said of Booker yesterday. “We’re hopeful that he’ll be back some time during that trip.”
Booker is sixth in the NBA at 27.5 points per game this season and averaging 6.8 assists, good for 11th in the league.
Josh Okogie (lower abdominal strain) and Nassir Little (left knee inflammation) remain out. This will be Okogie’s fourth straight game missed and sixth for Little.
“Josh and Nas(sir) are making progress,” Vogel said yesterday.
Damion Lee, who has missed the entire season after undergoing right meniscus surgery in the offseason, was seen on the court yesterday but is still “a ways away” from returning, Vogel said.
Even with all these injuries, the Suns (37-26) have won two straight entering tonight’s matchup. The Celtics, on the other hand, have lost two straight. They still boast the best record in the NBA at 48-14.
Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30 p.m. MST on ABC.
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