2 min read • April 27, 2022
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In four games against New Orleans, the Suns have suffered two losses.
In each of those losses, they have also endured an injury to a star player.
Devin Booker, the seventh year shooting guard, strained his right hamstring in Game 2. He is unlikely to return to the series, even if it goes to Game 7 on Saturday, according to the Pro Basketball Docs.
Chris Paul is the latest injury concern for the Suns. He injured his left hand in the second quarter of Sunday's loss, but remained in the game.
While his injury play was difficult to pin down, it appeared to happen when he fouled Naji Marshall on a layup attempt.
Paul was seen flexing his hand at several points after the foul and emerged in the second half with black tape on his left index and middle fingers.
He spent most of the second half dribbling with his right hand, although defenders continued to force him left.
The 37-year-old was held scoreless in the second half on 0-5 shooting, but did have 5 assists, 2 rebounds and a steal.
The Pro Basketball Docs do not believe he is 100% healthy and the hand injury will likely affect him throughout the series.
He carries a SIC player health score of 74, with key downgrades for ball handling and passing.
Paul becoming turnover prone is the last thing Phoenix needs, as he takes on an extra emphasis as the floor general with Booker out.
He also has an extensive injury history with both hands, including a left wrist injury he suffered in last year's playoffs. Plus fractures in his left index and left middle fingers in 2015.
The starting point guard's injury could be enough to sway the series into the Pelicans favor, as detailed below.
Betting Perspective (All Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook)
After Game 2, the series odds were updated to -260 for the Suns to win and going into Game 5, the odds have increased slightly to -275. In terms of value, if you believed in the Pelicans before, the value is immense currently with the series being shorten to a technically three games on top on the recent Chris Paul finger issue. At the current odds to win the series, New Orleans holds tremendous value at +230, they now hold the clear health advantage with a differential of 19.3 in their team SIC scores. Expect Paul, future hall of fame PG, to push through the injury but playmaking will suffer and his turnovers may increase. Among the recent playoff injuries, the Pelicans hold the most betting value and the biggest health advantage heading towards end of the series.
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