Devin Booker, an All-Star guard for the Phoenix Suns, will play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday after recovering from a right ankle sprain.
Booker has missed the last four games due to doubts about his health. He did not play in Saturday’s 117-107 loss to the Boston Celtics. Since Booker stepped on teammate Royce O’Neale’s ankle and left the game against the Houston Rockets last Saturday, Phoenix has gone 2-2. The injury report first listed Booker as likely.
Additionally, reserves Josh Okogie (lower abdomen strain), Nassir Little (left knee inflammation), and Eric Gordon (right ankle sprain) were classified as out for Phoenix. Despite not scoring in his 29 minutes of action against the Celtics, Gordon is averaging 12 points per game this season on 38% shooting from outside the arc.
Little has missed the last six games, while Okogie has missed the last four for Phoenix.
On Friday, Booker returned to the practice field, and on Saturday, he warmed up in the same location before the game. While a timeout was in effect, he was actively motivating colleagues from the bench.
“I am excited to get him back, but we definitely don’t want to rush him back,” Kevin Durant said after scoring 45 points in Saturday’s loss. “It is an important part of the season, and we need him to be as healthy as possible. If we can buy another couple hours, another couple days for him to get him right, we definitely could do that but we miss him out on the floor.”
Booker has averaged 27.5 points and 6.8 assists per game this season.
