Devin Booker may not be playing in the Phoenix Suns’ Game 5 matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans, but that didn’t stop the guard from getting some work in during Tuesday morning’s shootaround.
Devin Booker in the shooting game pic.twitter.com/asZb0Rqr55
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) April 26, 2022
It’s at least a promising sign that Booker is out on the court after missing the past two games of the first-round series with a Grade 1 hamstring strain suffered late in the third quarter of Game 2.
Head coach Monty Williams said prior to Game 5 that Booker is only shooting at the moment.
“He’s doing a little bit more, but for now, he’s just getting up a ton of shots and that’s a good sign,” Williams said.
The guard left the matchup after dropping 31 first-half points in the loss. That performance came after a 25-point effort on 42.1% shooting (50% from three-point land). He also dished out eight assists in the Game 1 win.
The following day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the guard appeared unlikely to play in Games 3 and 4.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst took things a step further a day later, reporting the guard could miss 2-3 weeks with the Grade 1 strain.
Windhorst added the Pelicans are still preparing as if Booker will return to action sooner than later.
In a statement from the team last Wednesday, a timetable on a potential return was not given.
With Booker sidelined, the Suns have turned to forward Cam Johnson in the interim.
In his two starts since Booker went down, Johnson has totaled 21 points on 36.8% shooting (41.7% from long range) to go along with six rebounds and three assists.
The Suns take on the Pelicans in Game 5 of their first-round series at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night. Tune to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station for all the action.