Suns face hurdles ahead of Lakers clash

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker won't play against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 10, choosing rest instead after a tough win over Dallas. Booker had just dropped 37 points, but the team decided he should skip one of the final two games of the season. Jalen Green faces an uncertain return after dealing with right knee soreness, while Jordan Goodwin (left ankle) and Haywood Highsmith won't play at all. Green and Goodwin both struggled in the first half of a game against Denver on April 7, warming up at halftime but failing to continue. Green has dealt with multiple injuries this year—missing 48 games after never missing a single one in Houston. Meanwhile, Mark Williams and Grayson Allen are back after injuries, though they weren’t even listed as questionable.

For the Lakers, their playoff hopes are already set, but injuries keep piling up. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves won’t return this season due to hamstring and oblique issues, while Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart are also sidelined. Their next game is a back-to-back against Golden State on April 9, where they’ll already be without key players. The Suns, now locked into the seventh seed, will face either the Clippers or Trail Blazers in the play-in tournament on April 14. The winner claims the seventh playoff spot, while the loser gets another chance on April 17 to fight for the eighth seed. Golden State sits at tenth, just one win away from being in the mix. With the season winding down, both teams have to make tough decisions about player health and positioning. The Suns are playing it safe with Booker, while the Lakers are dealing with a long list of injuries. It’s a tough end to the regular season for both squads.

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