Zachary Engberg
2 min read • February 07, 2023
Posted in
Two days after the Nets, 32-21, lost their elite scoring guard when they traded malcontent Kyrie Irving to Dallas the Suns, 29-26, will get their offensive star back as Devin Booker is expected to return from the groin strain he suffered on Christmas.
Devin Booker has played four minutes and 20 seconds in the last 25 games due to the groin injury since he scored 58 points on 35 shots in an overtime win on December 17 and Phoenix is 11-14 since that outpouring.
FanDuel has set Booker's scoring total at 21.5 and rebounding total at 3.5 for his return and he has averaged 27.1, 5.6 assists, and 4.6 rebounds on 20.4 shots per game in 29 games this season.
The Suns are 8-2 with 112.8 points and 28.7 assists on 46% shooting and 39% from three since starting forward Cameron Johnson returned from meniscus surgery on January 19, followed closely by Chris Paul’s return from a reported hip injury on January 22.
The 26-year-old Johnson has averaged 14.8 points and 4.1 rebounds on .494/.477/.864 shooting splits since his injury and Paul has 16 points, 9.6 assists, and five rebounds in eight games since he came back.
Their current 10-game run began with a 117-12 win over the Nets in Phoenix, but none of the four leading guards that night – Irving, Curry, Torrey Craig, and Damion Lee – will be featured players on Tuesday.
The Suns have endured injuries to reserve guards Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet because of contributions from a bevy of reserves including Dario Saric, who has averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds on 49.5% shooting in his last 16 games.
Shifty second-year shooting guard Cam Thomas has taken advantage of the opportunities that Kyrie Irving (traded), Seth Curry (adductor), and Kevin Durant (MCL) have left behind, averaging 32.8 points and 3.5 rebounds on 56.8% from the field on 20.3 shots in the last four games.
Thomas had a career-high 47 points on 15-29 and was one of four Brooklyn starters to score in double figures during their loss to the Clippers on Monday, led by Nic Claxton with 15 points and 16 rebounds and Edmond Sumner with 23 points and five rebounds.
They are 2-2 without both Durant and Irving this season, although Ben Simmons much-maligned point guard Ben Simmons only played one game, when he notched a 10-10-11 triple-double in a 106-98 loss to the Spurs.
Simmons said he will return on Tuesday after five games off due to left knee soreness, for which he has missed 15 games this season.
In the five games before the apparent injury, the 26-year-old Aussie averaged 8.4 points, 7.6 assists, 6.2 rebounds, and a combined 2.2 steals and blocks.
Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith missed Monday’s loss to the Clippers but could make their team debut against the Suns.
Phoenix is favored over the Nets in Brooklyn by 4.5 points at -110 on FanDuel Sportsbook, with the Suns moneyline set at -190 and the Nets at +160.
The night after the Nets allowed 124 points, the over/under for the contest is 226 points.
Written by Zachary Engberg
