The Phoenix Suns lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on November 10 and Kevin Durant said the team is sorely missing Devin Booker.
Booker is dealing with a calf injury.
“(Booker) makes this thing go,” Durant said. “Without him, we can’t go where we want to go. He just puts so much pressure on defenses, and he guards (multiple positions). We miss him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Updates
Booker has appeared in just two games this season. He’s averaging 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 10.5 assists while shooting 57.5% from the field, 53.3% from beyond the arc and a perfect 100.0% from the free-throw line.
Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal haven’t played together yet. The Suns are 4-5.
“It’s a long season,” Suns head coach Frank Vogel said. “Stay together. (It’s) disappointing. We’re banged up, got guys coming back, and we’re still going to get even more whole than we are.”
Durant is doing everything he can to keep the Suns afloat while Booker is out. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging 30.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 50.8% from the floor, 40.5% from 3 and 83.1% from the foul line.
It’s unknown when Booker will return to the lineup for the Suns, who gave up 12 3-pointers to the Lakers, one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the NBA.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Updates
“We had to get to their shooters better than we were,” Vogel said. “They’re not a great shooting team, but they got guys who are capable. They showed it tonight. Trying to slow down LeBron without being sharp on your rotation to their shooters is a problem.”
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