Suns guard Dillon Brooks left Saturday’s game with a broken left hand, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Team doctors will meet soon to determine how long Brooks is expected to be sidelined, Charania adds.
The injury occurred midway through the first quarter when Brooks took a jump shot that was contested by Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr., according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Carter appeared to make contact with Brooks’ non-shooting hand, and Brooks grabbed it after the play.
He left the game with 4:46 remaining in the quarter and didn’t return. Ryan Dunn replaced him in the starting lineup for the second half.
Acquired from Houston over the summer as part of the Kevin Durant trade, Brooks has been a vital part of the turnaround in Phoenix with his play on the court and his effect on the team’s culture. Coming into today, he was averaging a career-high 21.2 points, along with 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists through 49 games with .441/.343/.856 shooting numbers. He has also brought toughness to a team that lacked it last year, along with a feisty attitude that recently resulted in a one-game suspension for picking up his 16th technical foul of the season.
It’s a rough blow for a 33-24 Phoenix team that’s solidly in the race for a top-six finish in the West and an automatic playoff spot. The Suns announced earlier today that star guard Devin Booker will miss at least a week with a right hip strain, and Jordan Goodwin also left Saturday’s game with a calf injury, Rankin tweets.
brutal
Gonna be tough without DBook and Dillon Brooks on the floor for a while.
Somewhere LePurse is Smiling
They are still going to be in the post season but it will hurt as they could host the play in game. Top 6 is OKC, SAS, Den, Minn, Hou, and likely Laker. The only team Suns may have pushed would be LAL.
From a Rockets fan, this is awful for the Suns and the league. Love him or hate him, you have to respect his presence. Hope he can be back this season.
Karma