The Phoenix Suns have suffered their second crushing blow of the week.
Star forward Dillon Brooks ran a broken left hand during Saturday’s dual win over the Orlando Magic – just days after superstar guard Devin Booker went down with a right hip strain.
Brooks is expected to be sidelined for an “extended period,” according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, and doctors will meet on Sunday to determine his exact recovery timeline.
Before Saturday’s game, Phoenix announced that Booker would miss at least a week due to a hip injury he suffered against the Spurs on Thursday night.
The Suns – who are seventh in the West with a surprising 33-24 record under first-year head coach Jordan Ott – will now have to keep it strong for the foreseeable future in a heated play-in race without two of their top stars.
While Ott acknowledged there was an emotional “lull” after such a drastic setback, he emphasized that it is no excuse to turn around – and that Phoenix still has the necessary resources to hold on.
‘We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves’ Ott told reporters after the game. ‘No one will feel sorry for us.
“[Our opponents] definitely not going to do that. They’re trying to win a game just like us. No one cares… The only group that can help us when we are stranded is our group.”
Brooks, 30, is having a breakout year after arriving in Phoenix via the Kevin Durant trade — averaging a career-high 20.9 points along with 3.7 rebounds per game.
Phoenix is just 3-4 this season without the scrappy forward.
Booker, meanwhile, leads the Suns with 24.7 points and 6.1 assists per night in his age-29 campaign.
Phoenix continues its homestand on Sunday night against the Trail Blazers before hosting the Celtics and Lakers later this week.
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