Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Chris Graythen/Getty Images/AFP
The Phoenix Suns were fined $25,000 by the NBA Saturday after violating the league’s injury-reporting guidelines over Devin Booker’s status ahead of Game 6 against New Orleans on Thursday.
The league ruled that Phoenix did not reveal Booker’s playing status “in an accurate and timely manner” before he returned to action in the Suns’ first-round series-clinching win over the Pelicans.
Booker, who missed the series’ previous three games after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 2, had been upgraded to questionable earlier in the day Thursday. After testing the leg during pregame warmups, the All-Star guard started and played 32 minutes, scoring 13 points in the 115-109 Phoenix victory.
The 25-year-old Booker averaged 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the regular season in making his third straight All-Star Game appearance.
The Suns begin their second-round series at home Monday in Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks.