All-Star Devin Booker returns from COVID protocols as Phoenix Suns down Miami Heat, clinch playoff berth
MIAMI — Seeing Devin Booker on the court again just for pregame had Suns assistant coach Jarrett Jack fired up.
"He's baaaaack," shouted Jack as Booker was doing a dribble drill.
Yep, Booker is back
The three-time All-Star rejoined the Suns for Wednesday's game at Miami after missing four games in the NBA's health and safety protocols.
Booker scored a game-high 23 points in the 111-90 win at FTX Arena.
With the win, the Suns (53-13) clinched a top six playoff spot with 16 games remaining.
Not too long ago, Phoenix had its second-worst season in franchise history with 19 wins in 2018-19.
That was the last time the NBA had an 82-game season as COVID-19 led to shorter regular seasons the previous two years.
The Suns resume action Friday at home against Toronto followed by a Sunday battle against the Lakers at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
Shooting 7-of-12 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3, Booker added nine assists and eight rebounds.
Before the game, Williams talked about how Booker was "grateful" to be back.
"We all know how much he means to our team and we were both talking about how much basketball has given order to our lives," Williams said. "When we don't have, we kind of don't know what to do."
Booker arrived in Miami Tuesday night after he cleared the league's COVID protocols.
"It was good to have him back," Williams continued. "I know it brought some energy to the group. Guys are happy to see him."
Booker was slated to start and Williams said he'll look to monitor his minutes.
Last playing Feb. 27 at home against Utah, Booker played all 12 minutes in the first quarter Wednesday against the Heat (44-23).
"I'll just read him," Williams said. "More than likely it won't be the same that he's been playing 36-plus, 38, sometimes 40. That'd be pretty hard to accomplish tonight, but I've got to read him in the game. Book never wants to come out so I have to at times be the governor with him to make sure he's fresh and doing OK."
The Suns went 3-1 in those games without Booker, defeating Portland and New York at home, but then falling at Milwaukee on Sunday and edging the Magic, 102-99, Tuesday in Orlando.
Williams followed the same path in returning from from missing four games in protocols after testing positive for COVID-19.
He didn't make the trip to Boston to begin a three-game road trip Dec. 31, didn't coach the next game Jan. 2 at Charlotte, but returned for the final game of the road trip Jan. 4 at New Orleans.
The Suns are still without Chris Paul (fractured right thumb) and Cam Johnson (right quad contusion).
Paul hasn't played since the All-Star break as he's likely to miss the rest of the regular season while Johnson missed Sunday's loss at Milwaukee as well as Tuesday's win at Orlando.
Booker and Johnson didn't make the initial trip to Milwaukee.
Johnson suffered the quad injury against the Knicks in his 38-point night that ended with a 31-footer at the buzzer to give the Suns a 115-114 victory.
Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.