The Phoenix Suns have been decimated by injuries since the All-Star break, with as many as four players missing multiple games. That includes two key contributors in Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker, though the latter now appears to be trending toward a return sooner rather than later.
Booker suffered a right hip strain in the first game after the All-Star festivities against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring five points in nine minutes before exiting. He has since missed four straight games, and Phoenix has gone 2-2 during that stretch, with two blowout losses and two buzzer-beating wins.
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While Booker is the Suns’ leading scorer, his presence is especially critical in creating space for teammates and drawing defensive attention, particularly in half-court situations. And fortunately for Phoenix, the 29-year-old could be back on the court soon.
Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns during the 75th NBA All-Star Game.Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
NBA reporter John Gambadoro reported Friday that Booker was “progressing well from a hip strain and trending towards being back after this four-day break – Likely either Sacramento on Tuesday or Chicago on Thursday.”
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Booker was scheduled to be reevaluated this weekend, and head coach Jordan Ott suggested the four-day break would aid in his recovery.
“Still seems to be progressing. You’ve seen him there on the court. He’s definitely moving around more and more each day. These four days will definitely help us,” he said pre-game on Thursday.
Booker has also dealt with groin and ankle injuries this season, so the Suns will need to be cautious about rushing him back. He remains vital to their postseason hopes, averaging a team-high 24.7 points on 45.4% shooting, along with 3.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.
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But with Brooks sidelined for multiple weeks following surgery on his left hand and Jordan Goodwin dealing with a calf injury, Phoenix still faces a challenging stretch and will need increased production from Jalen Green, Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and Mark Williams to stay on track.
Related: Giannis Antetokounmpo Makes Interesting Pitch to Recruit Devin Booker
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.