After leading the Suns to an opening night win against the Golden State Warriors, All-Star guard Devin Booker joins Bradley Beal on the bench in street clothes Thursday night, leaving Kevin Durant to try carrying Phoenix to a road win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Booker, who scored 32 points at Golden State on Tuesday night, played through a toe injury in the game and was ruled out with foot soreness prior to Thursday’s game.
Veteran guards Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen are in the starting lineup with Booker and Beal out. Beal is missing his second game with a back injury.
“Next man up mentality. We hope for Book and Brad to get back as soon as possible and we try to hold down the fort for them,” Durant said Thursday at shootaround before the Lakers’ game. “We know how special and important those players are to what we’re trying to do everyday. But it’s on us as players to come through and step up as best as we can and try to get the ‘W.'”
Booker scored 32 points in the regular-season opener to lift the Suns to a victory at Golden State.
He said Tuesday night he jammed the big toe on his left foot in practice and felt some soreness during the game.
“I had been out over a week with the toe, it took some time,” Booker said.
–Field Level Media
