© Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
PORTLAND – After Devin Booker rolled his ankle in Atlanta, the conversation immediately shifted from box scores to identity. The Phoenix Suns will have another test though without Devin Booker, as he has been ruled out when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night per Duane Rankin of AZCentral.
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Suns injury report at Blazers:
Jalen Green (left hip contusion/right hamstring injury management) QUESTIONABLE.
Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) OUT. #Suns pic.twitter.com/0Eznyh0G6V
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) February 3, 2026
Jan 23, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) goes down with an injury as guard Jordan Goodwin (23) and forward Oso Ighodaro (11) look on against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Superstars don’t just put up points; they organize the emotional rhythm of a team. With Booker recently unavailable, the Suns have been forced to answer a harder, more revealing question: Can their ecosystem function without gravitational talent pulling every defender toward it?
Feb 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns injured guards Jalen Green (left) and Devin Booker against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Early signs say yes, conditionally. Phoenix’s depth has responded not by replacing Booker’s usage, but by redistributing responsibility. Ball movement improves. Defensive possessions stretch longer. Role players stop orbiting and start attacking. That’s not accidental; it’s structural. The Suns’ coaching staff has leaned into adjustments that bring quicker decisions and shared creation, trading isolation efficiency for collective pressure.
How the Suns can continue to focus without Devin Booker in the lineup:
Portland enters tonight’s matchup on a five-game losing streak, though it will still need to focus on some young stars. Donovan Clingan is shooting 51.8% and averaging 11.1 points for the Trail Blazers, while Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 22.9 points over the last 10 games. Young teams thrive on chaos, and Phoenix without Booker introduces exactly that.
Jan 14, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers (from left to right) Kris Murray (24), Scoot Henderson (00), Donovan Clingan (23), Shaedon Sharpe (17) and Toumani Camara (33) walk back to the court after a timeout during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
For Suns fans, the emotional undercurrent is familiar: anxiety mixed with curiosity. Nobody wants their franchise player sidelined. But contenders aren’t defined by perfect health; they’re defined by adaptability. The best teams don’t collapse when the star exits; they reveal layers. Booker’s injury doesn’t lower the Suns’ ceiling in Tuesday night’s matchup; it exposes their floor. If Phoenix can survive nights like this with cohesion and intent, they aren’t just dangerous when healthy; they’re durable when it matters.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
