Suns’ Devin Booker Suffers Sprained Ankle Injury in Loss vs. Rockets

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMarch 3, 2024

Chris Coduto/Getty Images

Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker suffered a sprained right ankle during Saturday’s 118-109 loss to the Houston Rockets, though X-rays came back negative.

“We’ll see how he responds overnight,” head coach Frank Vogel told reporters.

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetHere’s all the injury updates Frank Vogel had on Devin Booker’s ankle, Royce O’Neale’s ankle, Bradley Beal’s ejection, and Jusuf Nurkic’s neck pic.twitter.com/6xZdX5bYUy

He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter after appearing to step on a teammate’s foot while playing defense.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportDevin Booker headed to locker room with apparent injury

Hope he’s okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3nG7wPLxha

The injury came with just a little over a minute remaining in the contest. He played 38 minutes in the defeat, putting up 24 points and five assists, though he did add five turnovers.

It was a rough night for the Suns all around. Bradley Beal was ejected in the contest in his return from a five-game injury absence. Royce O’Neale suffered an ankle sprain of his own, while Jusuf Nurkić came down with a sprained neck.

Beal and Jalen Green scuffled in the third quarter quarter, leading to the ejection after the former was hit with two technical fouls. Green was given a technical foul.

“You can do so much talking, it’s the NBA, but if you yelling in somebody’s face that’s a whole different dynamic,” O’Neale told reporters after the game regarding the Beal ejection. “We ain’t gonna tolerate that. He stood his ground. We’ve got his back.”

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin”It’s cool.”

Royce O’Neale on ankle injury. Devin Booker stepped on his ankle.

“It happened so fast.”

On Bradley Beal ejection after Jalen Green exchange: “You can do so much talking, it’s the NBA but if you yelling in somebody’s face, that’s a whole different dynamic.” #Suns pic.twitter.com/jF6nteuzR9

Kevin Durant told reporters he didn’t even realize Beal was ejected until the fourth quarter:

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankinKevin Durant said he didn’t even know Bradley Beal was ejected until the 4th quarter. #Suns pic.twitter.com/sa7YDigPAg

The loss dropped the Suns to 35-25 on the year, keeping them at sixth in the Western Conference and just a half-game ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the first Play-In Tournament berth.

More importantly for the Suns, however, is the health of Booker. The trio of Booker, Beal and Durant has appeared in just 22 games together this season but have outscored opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions while sharing the floor, per NBA.com.

Keeping them healthy for a long stretch as the playoffs near would be ideal as the Suns continue to build chemistry and seek a title. It sounds as though Booker avoided serious injury on Saturday night, which will certainly come as a relief in Phoenix.