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Suns’ Devin Booker OUT vs. Lakers, preparing for next week’s Play-In

Originally posted on Burn City Sports
By Tanner Tortorella | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 9:31 PM ET

GLENDALE – The Phoenix Suns announce that guard Devin Booker is out for Friday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. The five-time All-Star was hanging on by a thread for All-NBA award eligibility with the 65-game rule. However, with two games played this season under 10 minutes, those don’t count putting him at 62 games, with the last two games not mattering.

The 29-year-old has played in 20 straight games, the longest streak since November, and get a much needed rest before next week’s Play-In tournament. Booker spoke postgame following the Dallas Mavericks win about preparing for the Play-In and the team’s mindset.

Booker postgame vs. the Mavericks:

“I see it from both sides, man. We look at this bad stretch that we went through, and think about what it could have been. We could definitely be in that 4 or 5 spot, maybe even 3. But I’ve always been the type: next day mindset. We’re in the position that we’re in, and we have to take full advantage of it. We have to get on the same page in a hurry, and I’m looking forward to it.”

The position the Suns are in is seventh in the Western Conference and guaranteed home court in the Play-In. Phoenix could face off against the Los Angeles Clippers or the Portland Trail Blazers in the 7th-8th part of the bracket. Booker finds his team in this spot because of a 5-9 stretch starting in mid-March.

The franchise has missed multiple starters during this rut, but it still hasn’t improved even with the return of Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams. With two games left, the team is looking to just stay healthy and prepare for the eventual Play-In showdown. Booker seems motivated to put this losing month behind him and the team to make some noise in the postseason.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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