The Phoenix Suns suffered another injury scare Thursday night when All-Star guard Devin Booker exited early against the San Antonio Spurs with right hip soreness. The sudden departure immediately shifted the game’s tone and raised fresh concerns about the All-Star guard’s availability moving forward.
Devin Booker and the Suns Suffered Another Setback
The Phoenix Suns were already managing Booker’s ankle injury. Added to this, they were also fighting to solidify their Western Conference standings, and now his hip injury raises fresh concerns about his status. This injury can easily carry many implications for the Suns beyond just tonight.
Booker first checked out with 5:24 remaining in the opening quarter after appearing uncomfortable on the floor at Moody Center. He briefly returned midway through the second quarter but lasted only a couple of minutes before heading back to the locker room for good.
He finished with five points and one rebound on 2-of-6 shooting in nine minutes of action.
Phoenix trailed by double digits for much of the night and was down 98-71 entering the fourth quarter. Jordan Goodwin stepped into a larger role, starting the second half in Booker’s place as the Suns attempted to regroup offensively.
The hip issue raises immediate concern, given Booker’s recent health history. He had already missed eight of Phoenix’s previous 10 games after suffering a right ankle sprain on January 23 against the Atlanta Hawks.
He returned earlier this month and even participated in All-Star festivities in Los Angeles. But Thursday’s early exit adds fresh uncertainty about his availability moving forward.
What It Means for Phoenix
The timing of the injury is what makes this development particularly concerning for Phoenix. With the Western Conference standings tightly packed, even a short absence could impact playoff seeding and momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Booker entered the night averaging 25.2 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds across 43 games, serving as the Suns’ primary offensive engine. While his three-point shooting has dipped to a career-low 31.1 percent, his overall production remains critical to Phoenix’s success.
Now, his workload and conditioning will likely be monitored closely in the coming days, especially given the recent ankle issue he was working back from. The Suns’ medical staff will almost certainly take a cautious approach to avoid aggravating anything long-term.
Head coach Jordan Ott and the rotation pieces around Booker may now have to prepare for multiple scenarios. If the hip soreness proves minor, Phoenix could regain stability quickly. But if it lingers, the offensive burden will shift more heavily to the supporting cast, including Jordan Goodwin and the second unit. All of them will have to pitch in to test the team’s depth at a critical point in the calendar.
At 32-23 and sitting seventh in the Western Conference, the Suns can’t afford a prolonged absence from their leading scorer. But for now, the Suns await further updates regarding their franchise cornerstone.
