Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker suffered right hip soreness in the second quarter of a 121-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night and missed the remainder of the game.
Suns head coach Jordan Ott told reporters that Booker “wasn’t moving very well” and decided to sit him to “save himself,” according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
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Booker came off the court with 5 minutes and 24 seconds left in the first quarter and returned to the locker room. He returned with 4:46 left in the second quarter, but exited two minutes later and returned to the locker room. His final numbers for the night were five points and a rebound, going 2-for-6 from the field in just nine minutes of action.
Booker, who was selected to the All-Star for the fifth time this season, has recently suffered from injuries. He has missed seven consecutive games with a sprained ankle, which he suffered on Jan. 23 against the Atlanta Hawks. He returned to the Suns lineup on February 7 and played in the Suns’ next game on February 11 before missing the team’s final game before the All-Star Game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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During All-Star Weekend, Booker participated in the Three-Point Contest and, as a member of Team USA, won the first new Team USA vs. Team World All-Star Game.
The Suns are currently the seventh seed in the Western Conference, two games behind the sixth-place Minnesota Timberwolves.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devin Booker exits Suns game in second quarter with hip injury
