Orlando will travel to Phoenix on Thursday to try to keep its slim playoff hopes alive. Four of the Magic’s last five defeats have effectively ended their playoff hopes while the Suns are currently mired in a three-game losing streak.
Update injury for Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic
In spite of a slow start (21-24), Phoenix finished as one of the NBA’s most reliable squads. The Suns went undefeated for the first four games of March and won 16 of their next 21 games to go eight games above.500.
They had a four-game winning streak, beating Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, and Oklahoma City with Devin Booker scoring 44 points in the latter victory. Since then, the Suns have dropped three consecutive games, to the Kings, the Warriors, and the Bucks.
So, the Suns will be hungry to get back on track after suffering their first three-game losing streak since the middle of January.
- Devin Booker – Active
During Tuesday’s 116-104 loss to Milwaukee, Devin Booker played 43 minutes and contributed 30 points (13-27 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Booker was the team’s offensive catalyst once again, but the Suns fell short against the Bucks in a potential preview of the NBA Finals.
Booker has been one of the most productive players in March. The All-Star has averaged 34.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds over his team’s last seven games.
The Suns can’t seem to find the winning formula without Kevin Durant (ankle). They took a big hit when they lost Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, leaving a lot of responsibility on Booker and Chris Paul.
Although Paul’s scoring has been way down this season. He’s on track to score 13.5 points per game, which would be the lowest of his career. However, he’s still doing well as a playmaker, averaging 9.1 assists per game.
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The Magic were only eight games below.500 in late December, and it appeared they might make a late run at an Eastern Conference playoff spot this season, but they have since been unable to get past that hump.
Since the beginning of February, they have not won consecutive games, and they enter this game having dropped four of their last five. They won on Saturday against Miami in overtime but then lost on Tuesday to San Antonio. Four games separate Orlando from tenth place and the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.
- Gary Harris – Questionable
Soreness in his right hip flexor makes Gary Harris questionable for Thursday’s game against the Suns.
With Orlando’s record currently at 28-41 and Harris’s injury being the same one that forced him to miss a couple games at the beginning of March, there is little reason for the veteran to play through the pain.
It’s possible that Jalen Suggs would start in Harris’s place and Cole Anthony would get more playing time if Harris were to be sidelined.
Injury report Magic:
- Gary Harris (Hip) – Questionable
- Jonathan Isaac (Thigh) – Out for the season
Injury report Suns:
- Torrey Craig (Heel) – Questionable
- Landry Shamet (Foot) – Out
- Kevin Durant (Ankle) – Out
