Devin Booker, who has been out the last five weeks due to a left groin strain, is closing in on a return. And it could come as early as Tuesday against the Nets, based on ESPN.
The Suns star has been upping his workload and is anticipated to affix the team for the beginning of a five-game road trip that suggestions off Friday in Boston, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Phoenix also will play at Detroit on Saturday before facing the Nets in Brooklyn on Tuesday night.
Booker’s imminent return comes at a much-needed time for the Suns, who’re 27-25 and seventh within the Western Conference heading into Wednesday night.
Phoenix is just 8-10 without Booker, who’s averaging 27.1 points but has missed the last 23 games the groin strain in addition to hamstring soreness. He last played on Christmas Day against the Nuggets, exiting after just over 4 minutes and following a 58-point performance in his last game before that against the Pelicans.
The Nets (31-20), meanwhile, were without Kevin Durant, Ben Simmons and T.J. Warren for his or her showdown against the Celtics, with all three injured players not making the trip to Boston. They were blown out by Boston, 139-96.
Nevertheless, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said on Wednesday that he was “hopeful” Simmons and Warren would return Saturday against the Wizards.
