Suns Guard Devin Booker Speaks After Ankle Injury

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker spoke in the locker room after injuring his ankle against the Toronto Raptors.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns fell to the Toronto Raptors in 112-105 fashion, ending a seven-game winning streak and giving head coach Frank Vogel a few things to ponder on the plane ride back home to the desert. 

While various takeaways and stats will jump off the page, the biggest concern is the health of guard Devin Booker, who injured his ankle in the first half of action.

Devin Booker limped to the bench after this play. #Suns pic.twitter.com/l6Xuam50dM

— Donnie Druin (@DonnieDruin) November 30, 2023

Booker mysteriously left in the first quarter of play before eventually returning, which he revealed to The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin he simply had to use the restroom. 

In the second quarter, however, Booker rolled his ankle, hobbled to the sideline, and soon darted to the locker room to assumably be taped up. Booker rejoined the action and ultimately played 33 minutes while scoring eight points on just 2-12 shooting from the field. He also had five rebounds and five assists.

After the game, Rankin spoke to Booker about the injury:

"Part of the game."

Devin Booker on right ankle injury early in 3rd. Landed on Dennis Schroder's foot. Returned in 3rd.

"I thought I could be out there and force that gravity and get open shots for other people."

Fri. vs. Nuggets?

"It's a long flight. See how it feels." #Suns pic.twitter.com/DbNeFleqsd

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 30, 2023

"Stepped on his foot, part of the game," Booker said before being asked if the ankle got stiffer as time progressed.

"I don't know if it got stiffer, but I wasn't going to spend the rest of the night trying to beat people off the dribble. Still taking what the defense was giving us. They were still trapping so I thought I could be out there, force that gravity and get open shots for other people."

The Suns are set to host a back-to-back this weekend as the Denver Nuggets visit Friday and Memphis Grizzlies arrive Saturday. Just days later, Phoenix will travel to take on the Los Angeles Lakers for the quarterfinals of the NBA In-Season Tournament. 

When asked if he was concerned about missing time, Booker responded with:

"I'm not sure, it's a long flight. We'll see how I feel and you just have to go and gauge how it feels the next morning."

Frank Vogel also spoke on the injury. You can read more about it here:

Suns Coach Frank Vogel Updates Devin Booker Injury