For the second season in a row, the Suns are dealing with an injury to one of their stars in the first round of the playoffs.
In Phoenix’s Game 2 loss to New Orleans, three-time All-Star Devin Booker left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. The Pelicans took advantage, evening the series at 1-1 with a 125-114 victory.
Booker finished with 31 points on seven made 3s, all of which came in the first half.
Will the Suns have to move forward without Booker? Here’s everything we know about his status.
MORE: Watch the NBA playoffs on Sling TV (U.S. only)
What is Devin Booker’s injury?
Booker was ruled out for the remainder of Game 2 with right hamstring tightness.
This appears to be the play he suffered the injury:
Here’s what our camera caught of Devin Booker’s injury… Book throws a towel on the bench and whatever he said to Jae Crowder isn’t good. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/ZcNiPAA7yz
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 20, 2022
On April 20, the Suns announced that an MRI confirmed a “mild right hamstring strain” and there is no timetable for his return.
How long will Devin Booker be out?
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that it “appears unlikely” that Booker will play in Games 3 and 4 against the Pelicans. However, he added that Booker hasn’t been ruled out for the rest of the first round.
There’s still an evaluation ongoing on MRI results of Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker’s right hamstring, but it appears unlikely he will be able to play in Games 3 and 4 in New Orleans, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2022
Game 3 between the Suns and Pelicans will take place in New Orleans on Friday, April 22.
How the Suns played without Devin Booker this season
Booker missed seven straight games in December with a left hamstring strain. The Suns went 5-2 without him, defeating the Pistons, Spurs, Celtics, Trail Blazers and Wizards while losing to the Warriors and Clippers.
Booker then missed four straight games in March while he was in health and safety protocols. The Suns were also without Chris Paul during that stretch and yet still managed to go 3-1, their lone loss coming against the Bucks.
With Booker on the court this season, the Suns scored at a rate of 117.6 points per 100 possessions and limited teams to 108.1 points per 100 possessions, which was equivalent to the best offensive rating in the league and a top-four defense. With him on the bench, the Suns scored at a rate of 107.5 points per 100 possessions but held teams to 102.8 points per 100 possessions. That would’ve ranked 27th in offensive efficiency and first in defensive efficiency.
Booker is having the best season yet of his career. In 68 games, he averaged a career-best 26.8 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals on .466/.383/.868 shooting splits in the regular season.
Our TSN staff had Booker as one of the guards on this season’s All-NBA First Team.