The odds are stacked against the Phoenix Suns when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, as they might be without their star player, Devin Booker, for the third straight game due to a right groin strain.
But other than missing their best scorer, the Phoenix Suns will also have to deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s suffocating defense, which Booker previously accused of “getting away with” a lot of holding and grabbing.
“The secret is out. They do speed you up. They play aggressively. They’ll grab, they’ll hold, but it’s never like when you’re in a shooting position,” Booker said of the Oklahoma City Thunder via AZ Central’s Duane Rankin last month. “It’s always on the handle or on your drives when they get away with it.”
These two teams last faced off in the NBA Cup group stage on November 28, when the Oklahoma City Thunder won 123-119. Booker finished the game with 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on 5-for-13 shooting.
Phoenix Suns News: Devin Booker upgraded to questionable vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Phoenix Suns hope to have Devin Booker back in the lineup to stand a chance against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team went 1-1 in the past two games without their franchise player, losing to the Houston Rockets last week and winning against the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday.
This season, Booker averages a team-high 25.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.7 assists on 45.7 percent shooting from the field across 22 regular season starts.
Jalen Green (hamstring) and two-way player Isaiah Livers (hip) are the two other notable absentees for the Phoenix Suns, while Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) and Isaiah Joe (knee) are out for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
