The Phoenix Suns aren'tstrangers to moving forwardwithout Chris Paul and Devin Booker this season.They were the NBA'sbest team and reached theirfranchise-best 64 wins as their two All-Stars nearly missed half of that for acombined 31 regular seasongames (Paul was out for 17, Booker for 14).
Players such as Landry Shamethavestepped infor Booker when he missed four games aftertesting positive for COVID-19.
The Suns will likely play without Bookerin Games 3 and 4 of the first-round series atNew Orleans this Friday and Sunday because of the"mild" right hamstring injury he suffered in theGame 2 home loss, according tohis WednesdayMRI results.There's no timetable for his return.
“It is what it is. It’s part of the game, you know what I mean. We got guys that are more than capable of stepping up," Chris Paul said following Game 2."I mean, Book (Devin Booker) was killing it. He was having a big-time game, but it is what it is.”
Ouch:Report: Booker could miss 2-3 weeks with right hamstring strain
Suns coach Monty Williams believes there'sno needto panic because of theroster'sdepth and theyhad theleague-best road record (32-9).
Moore:Devin Booker's hamstring latest blow to Phoenix sports fans
They've done itbefore and can do it again.
"We get to go to their place and do what we do. We’ve been really good on the road, historically good on the road, we’ve played without Chris and Book before," Williams said in Tuesday's postgame."If we have to play without Book, next man up and we’ve done that all year long.”
Suns Playoff Pulse:With Devin Booker injured, should Phoenix be worried?
These are biggerquestions:
How long will they bewithout their top scorer?
How well canShamet respond to the challenge if he replacesBookeras theirstartingshooting guard in the playoffs, or at least Games 3 and 4?
“That’s bigtime, man. That’s just guys staying ready, and we’re gonna need guys (in) Game 3," Paul said."We’re gonna need everybody throughout this deep playoff run that we hope that we have. It’s been a season like that for us. Next man up, guys stay ready, and Sham was ready.”
Lucky baby:Suns' Devin Booker fist-bumps baby in loss to Pelicans
Booker sprintedto chase down and attempted to blockPelicanscenterJaxson Hayes' breakaway dunk at the third quarter's4:47mark, whichput them up 77-74. After Booker landed under the basket,his gait looked slow and imbalanced. Hewincedand waved to the Suns' bench to ask for a substitution, then flicked the ball with one hand to Paul to begin their possession.
He looked as if it was abad dèjávu.
Booker hasmissed23games since Oct. 2018 because ofhamstring injuries, including seven in December. The Suns were8-6without Booker, including 5-2 without him in said month.
Related:Suns' Bismack Biyombo, driven by helping others, honored by NBA
Williams replaced Booker withLandry Shamet22 seconds later. Bookerdidn't return and ended the night with a 31-point explosionthat came inthe first half.
Shamet finished with five pointsand one steal in 11½ minutes.
Histwo scoring plays were crucial in shaving the Pelicans' lead and brought the sold-out crowd to its feet.
For subscribers:5 takeaways from Suns' Game 2 loss with Booker's injury
"He brought a lot of energy," Cam Johnson said about Shamet. "He hit a big shot and had a nice dunk on baseline, so for him to step up and be ready to take that and take those opportunities is big."
Shamet missed practice on April 14 with a left foot injury and was questionable for Game 1. But after he was elevated to available for Sunday's series opener, Shamet was listed as DNP Coach's Decision alongside four other teammates (Aaron Holiday, Bismack Biyombo, Ish Wainright, Elfrid Payton)for the series' first two games untilWilliams was forced to change his mind.
“I just decided to shrink the rotation," Williams said followingthe Suns' Game 1 victory. "I talked to him before the game and told him what I was thinking, having a longer defender on (Brandon)Ingram was the idea. But there may be opportunities for Landry to get out there."
Up next:Suns vs. Pelicans picks: Who wins Game 3 in New Orleans?
Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton will probably playmore minutes to carry the Suns' scoring load in Game 3. But Friday's matchup could be Shamet'smoment to shine like Cameron Payne's breakthrough performance when he replacedChris Paul in last year'sSuns-Lakers first round series Game 2after Paulsuffered aright arm stinger early in that contest.
Playoff rewind: Phoenix Suns-New Orleans Pelicans Game 1 highlights
Shamet averaged 8.3 points, hit39.4% of his shots including36.8% from deep with1.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 20.8 minutes through 69 appearancesand 14 startsduring the regular season.
In Booker's absences this season, Shamet's stats marginally increased to 12.4 points, 40.3% shooting overall and 40.9% from deep, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 free throw attempts from 1.2 in 29 minutes. His 112.1 wasthe Suns' best defensive rating, trailed by Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Mikal Bridges (109.6).
Williams said besides losing Booker in Game 2,thetransition defense was "the worst we’ve ever looked" since he arrived in Phoenix three years ago, and it was "unsettling" for it to happen in a playoff game.
But he praised Shamet's performance.
“I thought he was really good," Williams said."To be able to come in and attack the basket that way and then knock down a 3 out of the timeout, he’s a guy that’s gonna stay ready. I mean we’ve been in this situation before where Book or Chris have been out.
"Now we gotta make that adjustment, but it’s gonna start with playing with a great level of intensity in every area. I thought we handled the offensive rebounding a lot better tonight but then we took a step back in transition, and so we just gotta put it together."
Read more:NBA Playoffs schedule, TV information: How to watch games
Shamet has to put it together by not just scoring more,but making big plays in the clutch.
He did that inhis season-best27- and 21-points outings, both against the Kingsin Phoenix's regular season finale loss on April 10 and in itsovertime win on March 20, respectively.
That's why the Suns signed him to afour-year, $42.5 million extension in October after they traded the No. 29pick and Jevon Carter to Brooklyn during last August's draft to add depth behindBooker at shooting guard.
Shamet has proved capable in moments under pressure, and he needs to do it again starting Friday night.
Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.
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