The Phoenix Suns are entering the final stretch of the regular season with a depleted roster, as the team has officially announced that Devin Booker ruled out, Jalen Green questionable for Suns vs Lakers on April 10. The All-Star guard’s absence comes after he hinted at the possibility of missing time to ensure health heading into the postseason.
Booker, who recently put on a clinic with 37 points in a 112-107 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on April 8, suggested that the team would likely manage his minutes or availability during the final two games. “It’s probably a conversation we’ll have amongst the team, but I could see one of the games not playing,” Booker said following that win.
The Suns, currently holding a 44-36 record, will travel to Crypto.com Arena to face the Los Angeles Lakers (50-29). With the seventh seed in the Western Conference already clinched, Phoenix is prioritizing health and recovery over the outcome of their final regular-season matchups.
While Booker is a certainty to miss the contest, the status of Jalen Green remains a primary concern for the coaching staff. Green is currently listed as questionable due to right knee soreness, adding to a season that has been defined by intermittent availability.
Managing the Roster: Injuries and Returns
The injury report for the April 10 matchup highlights a team in flux. Beyond Booker and Green, the Suns have ruled out Haywood Highsmith and Jordan Goodwin. Goodwin is currently sidelined with a left ankle sprain.
Both Green and Goodwin suffered setbacks during the first half of a win on April 7. Although both players attempted to return after warming up during halftime, neither was able to rejoin the game for the second half. For Green, this latest knee issue is another hurdle in a challenging debut season in Phoenix; he has missed 48 games this year due to a right hamstring injury, a stark contrast to his previous two seasons with the Houston Rockets where he appeared in every game.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope for the Suns’ depth. Mark Williams, who had been managing a left foot injury and Grayson Allen, recovering from a right quad contusion, are both available for the Lakers game. Neither player appeared on the most recent injury report, providing a much-needed boost to the frontcourt and perimeter shooting.
Lakers Facing Their Own Personnel Crisis
The Suns’ absences are mirrored by significant gaps in the Los Angeles Lakers’ lineup. The Lakers are dealing with the loss of Luka Doncic, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and Austin Reaves, who is out for the remainder of the regular season with a left oblique muscle strain.
the Lakers are entering the April 10 game on the heels of a back-to-back, having played the Golden State Warriors on April 9. Their struggle with availability extends to the bench, with Jaxson Hayes (left foot soreness) and Marcus Smart (right ankle contusion) both missing action against the Warriors.
Comparing the Availability Outlook
| Player | Team | Status | Injury/Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | Suns | Out | Rest/Management |
| Jalen Green | Suns | Questionable | Right Knee Soreness |
| Luka Doncic | Lakers | Out | Left Hamstring Strain |
| Austin Reaves | Lakers | Out | Left Oblique Strain |
| Grayson Allen | Suns | Available | Returning from Quad Contusion |
The Road to the Play-In Tournament
The stakes for the April 10 game are relatively low for Phoenix in terms of standings, but the psychological momentum is critical. Having secured the seventh seed in the NBA Western Conference standings, the Suns are now preparing for the high-pressure environment of the play-in tournament.
The timeline for Phoenix’s postseason journey is now set. On April 14, the Suns will host a play-in game against either the Los Angeles Clippers (41-39) or the Portland Trail Blazers (40-40). The winner of that contest will officially secure the seventh seed for the Western Conference playoffs.
The stakes for the loser of that April 14 game are equally high, as they will be forced into a second play-in game on April 17 against the winner of the 9-10 seed matchup (which currently includes the Golden State Warriors, who sit in 10th place). That final game will determine who claims the eighth and final seed in the playoffs.
For Phoenix, the goal is clear: avoid the second play-in game entirely. Ensuring that stars like Devin Booker are fully healthy for the April 14 start is a calculated risk that the organization is willing to take, even if it means missing a marquee matchup against the Lakers.
Following the Lakers game, the Suns will close their regular season on April 12 with a road game against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently dominate the league with a 64-16 record.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on the Suns’ strategy of resting stars before the play-ins in the comments below.
