Suns, Trail Blazers shorthanded in clash before All-Star break
Both teams could be without their All-Star player when the Phoenix Suns visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Suns star guard Devin Booker has been ruled out with a sprained right ankle and has missed the past five games. He was chosen as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team on Sunday. It is his fifth All-Star bid.
Trail Blazers standout forward Deni Avdija (back) is listed as doubtful, which would sideline him for a second straight game and seventh in the past 11. He was named as a reserve for the West team. It is his first time on the team.
Counting Tuesday, the Suns have five games remaining before the All-Star break. Booker is expected back at some point before then.
"We know who he is," Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said Monday. "As soon as he can get out there, he's going to get out there whether the All-Star break is tomorrow or in two weeks. He's going to rehab like crazy. He was in there again this morning. Whenever he's ready, he will be out there."
Booker is averaging 25.4 points, 6.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 41 games. The 11-year veteran has a career-low 31.3 percent success rate from 3-point range but has been solid everywhere else.
"There's not enough good things to say when you have a superstar that does all the things no one sees and does all the stuff on the court," Ott said of Booker. "We're glad he's in there. He deserves to be in there. I'm glad he's recognized by the coaches. Players and coaches are who you want to be respected by. He obviously has that."
Meanwhile, Avdija is enjoying a breakout season and is the first Israeli-born player to make the All-Star team. Avdija is averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 44 games.
"I couldn't do it without my teammates, couldn't do it without them," Avdija said of making the team. "How we share the ball, how we play hard, how are we in the standings.
"It's a team sport at the end of the day. You can be as good as you want, but you need your teammates to be there. You need to play as a team, contribute. Having success as a team and an individual, I feel like they've done a great job."
The downside for Avdija is the timing. With his back ailing, he may have to consider withdrawing from the All-Star festivities in an attempt to be healthy for the rest of the season.
The Trail Blazers have lost five straight games and were drubbed 130-111 by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
Cleveland's Jarrett Allen manhandled Portland with a career-best 40 points to go with 17 rebounds.
Caleb Love led the Trail Blazers with 21 points.
Phoenix is 6-3 over its last nine games after being pummeled 117-93 by the visiting Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
Grayson Allen scored 23 points and Dillon Brooks added 22. Brooks averaged 28.8 points in four games and was named Western Conference Player of the Week.
Suns guard Jalen Green sat out with left hip and right hamstring injuries and could be sidelined again on Tuesday. He is listed as questionable.
Portland acquired guard Vit Krejci from the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday for forward Duop Reath and two second-round draft choices (2027, 2030).
Phoenix won the first meeting of the season, 127-110 on Nov. 18 in Portland.