Suns Surge Early, But Devin Booker Exits with Groin Injury in Matchup vs. Lakers
Monday night’s showdown between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers had all the makings of a classic Western Conference battle-two rivals with playoff aspirations, one team playing on tired legs, and the other trying to capitalize. But the story quickly shifted from strategy to concern when Devin Booker exited early with a groin injury, leaving the Suns to navigate the rest of the game without their All-Star guard.
Booker lasted just 10 minutes before the Suns announced he wouldn’t return. In that short stint, he still managed to put up 10 points, two rebounds, and three assists on 4-of-7 shooting. It was a solid start, but the kind of night that now ends with more questions than answers-especially with Phoenix set to face Houston on Friday.
With Booker sidelined and Grayson Allen already ruled out, the Suns’ backcourt depth was put to the test. That meant more responsibility for Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin, who were thrust into bigger ballhandling roles. But the real spotlight belonged to Dillon Brooks, who stepped up in a major way.
Brooks was flat-out cooking in the first half, putting up 23 points on an ultra-efficient 11-of-16 from the floor. He didn’t just keep the Suns afloat-he led the charge. Phoenix took a 66-52 lead into halftime, largely thanks to Brooks’ aggressiveness and a defense that came to play.
And that defense? It gave the Lakers all kinds of problems.
Phoenix forced 12 first-half turnovers and turned them into 17 points the other way. That kind of defensive pressure isn’t just hustle-it’s execution.
The Suns were clearly the fresher team, and they used that edge to ramp up the intensity on both ends.
Luka Doncic, despite leading all scorers with 27 points at the break, struggled to find rhythm amid the chaos. The Suns’ defense swarmed him into six turnovers, and while Doncic can fill up the stat sheet in a hurry, those giveaways were costly.
Now, the big question is how the Suns hold up in the second half-and potentially beyond-without Booker. They’ve shown resilience before, and with Brooks playing like a first option, they’ve got a chance to keep the momentum rolling.
But make no mistake: Booker’s health looms large. He hadn’t missed a game all season until now, and if this groin injury lingers, Phoenix will need to dig deep to stay on track in a crowded Western Conference.
For now, though, they’ve got a lead, a hot hand in Brooks, and a defense that’s making life tough for the Lakers. That’s a formula that can still win games-even when your star goes down.