The Phoenix Suns will continue to learn how to cope with the absence of All-Star Devin Booker on Friday night when they visit the struggling Toronto Raptors.
Before losing 127-102 to the host Washington Wizards on Wednesday, the Suns announced that Booker would have his groin injury re-evaluated in four weeks.
Booker, who is averaging 27.1 points and has scored more than 50 points twice this season, has missed seven of the past 10 games with hamstring and groin injuries. He played just four minutes Sunday in a 128-125 overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets that opened a six-game road trip.
The Suns came back with a 125-108 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
The Raptors will be playing the second half of back-to-back games. They lost their fifth straight home game Thursday, 119-106 to the Grizzlies. Toronto has lost eight of its past 10 games overall.
As for the Suns, Deandre Ayton scored 31 points against the Wizards, while Chris Paul added 20 points and Mikal Bridges scored 17.
“They attacked us,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Close-outs weren’t great. And in that third quarter and beginning of the fourth, it was just one close-out after another and they were getting to the rim.”
Williams said he does not want Bridges, Ayton and Paul to feel as if they have to “try save the world” during Booker’s absence.
The Suns also have been dealing with injuries to Cameron Payne (foot), Landry Shamet (Achilles) and Cam Johnson (knee).
In their loss to the Grizzlies, the Raptors got 25 points and 10 rebounds from Pascal Siakam.
The Raptors were without Fred VanVleet (back) Thursday, though he is day-to-day. Precious Achiuwa (ankle) could return Friday.
