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MILWAUKEE — Phoenix Suns star guard Devin Booker was in Fiserv Forum four years ago, battling for an NBA championship.
He came up just short in losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the NBA Finals as the Suns lost Game 6 in this arena.
The lone player remaining from that 2020-21 squad, Booker now is on a losing team fighting to continue its season in the play-in tournament.
Phoenix is a game behind the Sacramento Kings for the 10th seed and final play-in spot in the West and trails the Dallas Mavericks by 1½ games for the ninth seed.
“It’s somewhere I never thought I’d be again to be completely honest, but we’ve built it before,” said Booker, who was with the Suns when they last missed the playoffs in the 2019-20 season. “I’ve seen the bottom. We got close to the highest you can go. I’m going to stay in that pursuit and stay with that the rest of my career.”
Booker and the Suns (35-40) were back in Milwaukee to face the Bucks (44-30) Tuesday, April 1, to start a three-game road trip without Kevin Durant, who is back in Phoenix with a left ankle sprain suffered in the second half of Sunday’s 39-point home loss to the Houston Rockets.
Durant is expected to miss multiple games with the injury. The Suns will have six games left after Tuesday's matchup in Milwaukee.
“Next man up, next man up,” Suns rookie Ryan Dunn said after Sunday’s loss. “You’ve just to got to be ready for whatever happens.”
The Suns have received criticism for how the season has unfolded. Fans and media also have questioned their competitive spirit.
Booker looks to approach the remainder of the season as he’s always done.
“I just go out and play and compete and continue to lead all the way through and see this thing all the way through. We all have that same mindset. Still a chance there. It’s a slight chance, but that’s going to keep us driven every day.”
The Suns are mired in a three-game skid in which they’ve lost to the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets by a combined 84 points.
“We knew coming into this that this was the tough part of our season and our schedule,” Booker said. “I think it just looks alarming because they’re must-win games that these are happening. Right before this little stretch, we had a good stretch, too.”’
The Suns mounted a four-game win streak during a five-game homestand with impressive wins over East leader Cleveland and Milwaukee before dropping their last three.
“We were just more connected, defending at a high level and teams have been getting what they want on us recently,” Booker said.
The Suns have the toughest remaining NBA schedule but start the road trip against a team it’s already beaten.
Phoenix edged the Bucks, 108-106, last week on Booker’s game-winning jumper with 2.4 seconds left. The rematch will be Suns coach Mike Budenholzer’s return to Milwaukee against the franchise that fired him after the 2022-23 season.
“We’re trying to do the same thing and build some momentum,” Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro said.
Phoenix will continue its road trip Friday against the Celtics (56-19) and end it Sunday against the New York Knicks (47-27). The Celtics blasted the Suns by 30 points without injured Jayson Tatum, while the Knicks took the Suns down back in November, 138-122.
The Suns may soon have Bradley Beal back from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him their previous seven games. Beal is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game.
“We definitely need him,” Booker said. “He’s a piece that we’ve been missing. Just make sure he’s healthy and ready to go.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker in unforeseen position after 2021 finals run
Continue reading...
He came up just short in losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the NBA Finals as the Suns lost Game 6 in this arena.
The lone player remaining from that 2020-21 squad, Booker now is on a losing team fighting to continue its season in the play-in tournament.
Phoenix is a game behind the Sacramento Kings for the 10th seed and final play-in spot in the West and trails the Dallas Mavericks by 1½ games for the ninth seed.
“It’s somewhere I never thought I’d be again to be completely honest, but we’ve built it before,” said Booker, who was with the Suns when they last missed the playoffs in the 2019-20 season. “I’ve seen the bottom. We got close to the highest you can go. I’m going to stay in that pursuit and stay with that the rest of my career.”
Booker and the Suns (35-40) were back in Milwaukee to face the Bucks (44-30) Tuesday, April 1, to start a three-game road trip without Kevin Durant, who is back in Phoenix with a left ankle sprain suffered in the second half of Sunday’s 39-point home loss to the Houston Rockets.
Durant is expected to miss multiple games with the injury. The Suns will have six games left after Tuesday's matchup in Milwaukee.
“Next man up, next man up,” Suns rookie Ryan Dunn said after Sunday’s loss. “You’ve just to got to be ready for whatever happens.”
The Suns have received criticism for how the season has unfolded. Fans and media also have questioned their competitive spirit.
Booker looks to approach the remainder of the season as he’s always done.
“I just go out and play and compete and continue to lead all the way through and see this thing all the way through. We all have that same mindset. Still a chance there. It’s a slight chance, but that’s going to keep us driven every day.”
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The Suns are mired in a three-game skid in which they’ve lost to the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets by a combined 84 points.
“We knew coming into this that this was the tough part of our season and our schedule,” Booker said. “I think it just looks alarming because they’re must-win games that these are happening. Right before this little stretch, we had a good stretch, too.”’
The Suns mounted a four-game win streak during a five-game homestand with impressive wins over East leader Cleveland and Milwaukee before dropping their last three.
“We were just more connected, defending at a high level and teams have been getting what they want on us recently,” Booker said.
The Suns have the toughest remaining NBA schedule but start the road trip against a team it’s already beaten.
Phoenix edged the Bucks, 108-106, last week on Booker’s game-winning jumper with 2.4 seconds left. The rematch will be Suns coach Mike Budenholzer’s return to Milwaukee against the franchise that fired him after the 2022-23 season.
“We’re trying to do the same thing and build some momentum,” Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro said.
Phoenix will continue its road trip Friday against the Celtics (56-19) and end it Sunday against the New York Knicks (47-27). The Celtics blasted the Suns by 30 points without injured Jayson Tatum, while the Knicks took the Suns down back in November, 138-122.
The Suns may soon have Bradley Beal back from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him their previous seven games. Beal is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game.
“We definitely need him,” Booker said. “He’s a piece that we’ve been missing. Just make sure he’s healthy and ready to go.”
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker in unforeseen position after 2021 finals run
Continue reading...
