Devin Booker set to return for Phoenix Suns' preseason finale vs. Lakers

Devin Booker says he’s ready to go Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at Footprint Center after missing the last two preseason games with a sore right ankle.

“It feels 100%,” Booker said.

Jusuf Nurkic is waiting for the morning sun to determine if he’ll play with an injured left middle finger.

“I don't know," a smiling Nurkic said. "We'll see when I wake up. I want to."

Nurkic has yet to play in a preseason game. Thursday night's home game against the Lakers is the final preseason contest.

The Suns open the 2024-25 regular season on Oct. 23 at the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Have to be cleared from the doctor, but also how much pain I can tolerate," Nurkic said. "I don't think we're far away. If it's opening night, I would play. No question. We'll see."

The Suns played their first four preseason games over eight days. Nurkic injured his finger during training camp.

“Trying to steal the ball,” Nurkic said. “Freak play. I was worried it could be worse.”

Nurkic said it happened in the open court.

“I thought (Bradley Beal) was going to pass it, but was a little short," Nurkic said.

Booker’s time sitting out was viewed as precautionary. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer raved about how he looked Tuesday after the team didn’t practice Monday.

“It’s Year 10 now,” Booker said. “So just being through it and just understanding you want to be healthy at the start of the season. Taking extra care of it and get it to 110% percent.”

Grayson Allen and Josh Okogie have also missed preseason action due to injury.

Allen hasn’t played since the first preseason game. He was initially ruled out for personal reasons as his wife is expecting their first child, but Allen has since been sidelined due to a sore right Achilles.

Okogie sat out of Sunday’s preseason win at Denver after experiencing right hamstring tightness in last Friday's preseason loss to Detroit at Footprint Center.

“We’ll see how everybody reacts to (Wednesday’s practice),” Budenholzer said. “See how Nurk feels (Thursday). Same with Grayson. I think we can say pretty confidently that Devin is going to play and feels good. Everybody else, we’ll just kind of see how they’re feeling.”

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker set to return for Phoenix Suns' preseason finale vs. Lakers