The Phoenix Suns will look to be just the second team to defeat the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder when the two teams play in an NBA Cup quarterfinal contest on Wednesday night.
But, the Suns will have to do so without their best player. Star guard Devin Booker has been ruled out of the game due to a right groin strain.
Devin Booker ruled out for NBA Cup game vs. Thunder
Booker has missed Phoenix's last two games due to the injury, which he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 1. He played 10 minutes in the game before subbing out and never returning.
"I think it was on the finish on [Jaxson] Hayes where he went chest-to-chest and he finished," Suns coach Jordan Ott said when asked how the injury occurred, via ESPN. "He fell and I don't think it was [felt] right away, but he mentioned it might've just been a couple plays after, and you could obviously see him trying to stretch it at that point. We kind of know where these things hit. We'll take a look tomorrow, [and know] more after that."
Prior to missing the last two, Booker had played in every game for Phoenix this season and is averaging 25.0 points, 6.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per performance. He leads the Suns in both points and assists.
The game between the Suns and Thunder will be the second of the season. Oklahoma City bested Phoenix, 123-119, in an NBA Cup group stage game in late November.