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Suns' Devin Booker Not Believed to Have Broken Nose Injury from Game 2 Collision

Paul KasabianSenior ContributorJune 23, 2021

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, bottom, dribbles against Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Finals, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York/Associated Press

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley appeared to bump heads during the third quarter of Phoenix's 104-103 win over the Clips in Game 2 of their Western Conference Finals series Tuesday.

SportsCenter @SportsCenter

Devin Booker and Patrick Beverley appeared to bump heads on this play. Both players went back to the locker room. https://t.co/cygqWXSmMg

Both players left the court but were able to return in the fourth quarter. However, Suns head coach Monty Williams thought Booker's injury was far worse at first.

"He was probably playing with a great deal of pain," Williams told reporters postgame. "I thought he broke his nose when I saw it. I worried about the blood continuing to flow."

Booker, who finished with 20 points in 41 minutes, gave an update on his health afterward.

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina

Devin Booker said he "feels better now," but said he'll get some scans and may wear a mask moving forward. He mused that his nose would've hurt more if the Suns lost.

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina

Devin Booker said he never had a broken nose. He said he put stitches on the top. Suns medical staff don't believe it is broken, but Booker said with a grin that it's crooked

The shooting guard played the entire fourth quarter, helping guide the Suns to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. He also got into it with Clips big man DeMarcus Cousins afterward:

SportsCenter @SportsCenter

DeMarcus Cousins pushed Devin Booker at the end of Game 2. https://t.co/NuoP0zlH8x

The 24-year-old dropped 40 points in Game 1 to give Phoenix a 120-114 victory to kick-start the Western Conference Finals.

Game 3 will take place in Los Angeles' Staples Center on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.