A Major Blow to the Star Power! Get ready for a thrilling matchup between the Suns and Warriors, but prepare for some significant absences. It seems two of the league's most electrifying guards, Devin Booker and Stephen Curry, will be watching from the sidelines for Thursday's highly anticipated game, which will be exclusively streamed on Amazon Prime Video. This definitely changes the dynamic of the contest!
Booker's Ankle Woes Continue: For Devin Booker, this marks his seventh consecutive game sidelined due to a right ankle sprain. He sustained this injury during a tough road loss to the Atlanta Hawks back on January 23rd. In his last appearance before the injury, Booker was on fire, dropping 31 points on an impressive 12-of-21 shooting. It's a real shame for fans eager to see his scoring prowess.
Green's Uncertain Status: The only other player for the Suns listed on Wednesday's injury report is Jalen Green, who is currently questionable to play. His status is being monitored due to management of a right hamstring issue and a left hip contusion. This comes after he missed three straight games following a hard fall on his back during Phoenix's recent matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Friday. It's been a challenging stretch for Green, as he's only managed to play in five of the Suns' 51 games this season. When he has been on the court, he's contributed an average of 11.6 points, along with 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists, shooting 43.5% from the field.
Curry's Knee Injury: Stephen Curry's absence will be his second consecutive game missed, stemming from a right knee injury. Curry, a two-time NBA MVP, has been a consistent force for the Warriors this season, averaging a stellar 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the 39 games he's played. But here's where it gets interesting: Curry was active for the last three encounters between the Suns and the Warriors. During those games, the Suns managed to secure a 2-1 record, and notably, they held Curry to under 50% shooting in all three of those contests. This might suggest a tactical advantage for Phoenix when he's on the floor, making his absence even more impactful for the Warriors.
Butler's Ongoing Recovery: Adding to the injury list, Jimmy Butler remains sidelined as he continues to recover from a torn right ACL on January 20th. Butler, who was a significant acquisition last season, was averaging a strong 20 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 38 games played before his injury.
Other Warriors' Absences: The Warriors will also be without Seth Curry (left sciatic nerve irritation) and Jonathan Kuminga (left knee bone bruise) for Thursday's game. Seth Curry, who had a brief stint with the Suns in the 2014-15 season, is expected to be reevaluated in about two weeks and has reportedly progressed to on-court workouts. Kuminga will be missing his sixth straight game, and his season has been hampered by various knee and ankle injuries, limiting him to just 20 game appearances.
Rookie's Limited Role: Lastly, undrafted rookie L.J. Cryer is listed as questionable due to left hamstring injury management. Cryer has seen limited action, appearing in only three games all in January, with a total of eight minutes on the court.
Tune In! Don't miss the Suns-Warriors game at 8 p.m. on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
Now, let's get to the real debate: With so many star players out, do you think this game will still be as exciting, or does it diminish the competitive spirit of the league? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
