For the second season in a row, the Suns are dealing with an injury to one of their stars in the first round of the playoffs.
In Phoenix's Game 2 loss to New Orleans, three-time All-Star Devin Booker left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Booker finished with 31 points on seven made 3s in the game, all of which came in the first half.
Will the Suns have to move forward without Booker? Here's everything we know about his status.
MORE: Watch the NBA playoffs on Sling TV (U.S. only)
What is Devin Booker's injury?
This appears to be the play he suffered the injury:
Here's what our camera caught of Devin Booker's injury... Book throws a towel on the bench and whatever he said to Jae Crowder isn't good. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/ZcNiPAA7yz
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) April 20, 2022
On April 20, the Suns announced that an MRI confirmed a "mild right hamstring strain" and there is no timetable for his return.
How long will Devin Booker be out?
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Booker is expected to play in Game 6 against the Pelicans on Thursday.
ESPN Sources: Phoenix Suns All-Star G Devin Booker (strained hamstring) is expected to play vs. New Orleans in Game 6 tonight. Booker is expected to test the ligament in pregame warmups, and assuming all goes well, he’ll be back on the floor after missing the past three games.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 28, 2022
Booker is expected to test his injury and pregame warmups and as long as all goes well, he'll make his return in this series after missing Games 3, 4 and 5.
The Suns lead the Pelicans 3-2, one win away from advancing to the second round.
Game 6 is set to be played on Thursday, April 28, while a Game 7, if necessary, would be played on Saturday, April 30.
How the Suns played without Devin Booker this season
Booker missed seven straight games in December with a left hamstring strain. The Suns went 5-2 without him, defeating the Pistons, Spurs, Celtics, Trail Blazers and Wizards while losing to the Warriors and Clippers.
Booker then missed four straight games in March while he was in health and safety protocols. The Suns were also without Chris Paul during that stretch and yet still managed to go 3-1, their lone loss coming against the Bucks.
With Booker on the court this season, the Suns scored at a rate of 117.6 points per 100 possessions and limited teams to 108.1 points per 100 possessions, which was equivalent to the best offensive rating in the league and a top-four defense. With him on the bench, the Suns scored at a rate of 107.5 points per 100 possessions but held teams to 102.8 points per 100 possessions. That would've ranked 27th in offensive efficiency and first in defensive efficiency.
Booker is having the best season yet of his career. In 68 games, he averaged a career-best 26.8 points to go along with 5.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals on .466/.383/.868 shooting splits in the regular season.
Our TSN staff had Booker as one of the guards on this season's All-NBA First Team.
