NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Phoenix Suns scratched guard and leading scorer Devin Booker from Sunday’s game against the Recent Orleans Pelicans due to tightness in his left hamstring.
Booker played 36 minutes during Friday night’s 128-117 loss in Recent Orleans, scoring 14 points, or about half of his per-game average of 27.4 points this season.
Normally an elite perimeter shooter, Booker was 2 of 8 from 3-point range within the loss.
“I didn’t see the conventional ‘Book’ look,” Suns coach Monty Williams said before tipoff Sunday. “As a corporation, it’s just best to make certain he’s good.
“He desires to play as Book would,” Williams added. “We’re just attempting to be as smart as we will.”
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Williams said Dario Saric, who played just 46 seconds and didn’t rating on Friday night, would start instead of Booker.
“We’ll attempt to do our greatest so far as managing rotations and things of that nature, but we have done this all 12 months. So, it’s nothing latest for us,” Williams said. “It’s just one other first-team All-NBA guy not playing. So, that is a part of the NBA season. Recent Orleans is doing the identical thing. So, you only need to manage it.”
The Pelicans are playing a seventh straight game without star wing player Brandon Ingram, who’s averaging 20.8 points per game, second on Recent Orleans’ roster behind Zion Williamson. He’s recovering from a left foot injury.
Recent Orleans also can be without starter Herb Jones, considered the club’s top defender, due to left ankle soreness. Jones is missing his fifth straight game.
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