On April 22, Beijing time, another news from Booker came: According to ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst, Suns player Devin Booker suffered a first-degree strain of hamstrings and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks, and the first round of the playoffs will be reimbursed! Checked the schedule: The Suns and Pelicans series, which ends on May 1 at the latest, is less than 2 weeks long.
The Suns did not officially give Booker's absence time, but said that his return date was undecided and he was absent from the series G3 that starts tomorrow. Sports medicine specialist Dr. Evan Jeffries writes: "A first-degree strain of a hamstring in the right leg generally requires 7-10 days of recovery. Booker can't be too hasty right now, and his injury is similar to harden last year.'s ”
In Series G1, the Suns beat the Pelicans 110-99, Booker played 41 minutes, 8-of-19 shooting, 4-of-8 three-pointers, 25 points and eight assists. Series G2 Booker played just 25 minutes, shooting 12-of-19, 7-of-11 from three-point range and cutting 31 points efficiently. But Booker was unable to play in the final quarter due to injury, and the Pelicans beat the Suns 125-114 to chase the score to 1-1.
The hamstring injury is also an old injury for Booker, who missed seven games earlier this season due to a hamstring injury. Booker missed a total of 14 games in the regular season, during which the Suns won 8-6. Before the playoffs began, the Suns were number one with +220 odds to win the title. After Booker was injured, the Suns' odds for winning the title dropped to +350, equal to the Warriors.
In the regular season, Booker played in 68 games, averaging 26.8 points, 5 boards, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 46.6% from the field, 38.3% from three-point range and 86.8% from the free throw line. Scoring per game, rebounding and three-point shooting are career highs. Although the Suns finished first in the league, Booker was not included in the MVP shortlist.
"General" Arenas said on the show: "It was embarrassing that Booker was not finally selected! The Suns are number one, so how can we ignore Booker? If I had to choose, I think MVP is Embiid! In addition, "Dr. J" Owen also supported Booker: "The MVP selection criteria are already whether the team is successful or not, don't ignore Booker!" ”
Wait, didn't you say that the 2 big defenders in the Finals were injured? Who is the other one? Also today, ESPN reported that Middleton will be reviewed in 2 weeks with the first round of the series reimbursed! In the G2 of the Bucks and Bulls, Middleton suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He played 33 minutes before retiring from injury and had 18 points, 5 boards and 8 assists on 6-of-11 shooting.
At present, the Bucks and the Bulls are also tied 1-1, and Middleton's absence has cast a shadow on the Bucks' promotion. In the regular season, Middleton played in 66 games, averaging 20.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 44.2% from the field, 37.7% from three-point range and 89% from the free throw line.
In the regular season this season, when Alphabet Brother, Middleton and Holliday scored 20+ at the same time, the Bucks won 9 and lost 0. When Alphabet Brother, Middleton, Holliday and Lopez Big played at the same time, the Bucks were 8-1 this season.
Now that Middleton and Booker are injured, Brother Alphabet and Paul are going to do their best! Do you think both the Bucks and suns can advance to the first round?