Suns’ Devin Booker out at least a week with hip strain

Devin Booker’s stop-and-start season has hit another pause button.

The Suns announced that Booker has been diagnosed with a right hip strain and will be sidelined at least one week before being reevaluated.

The injury occurred during Thursday’s loss to the Spurs, when Booker exited midway through the first quarter, tried to give it a go late in the second, and was ultimately ruled out after halftime.

It’s the latest frustration in what’s been a choppy stretch for Phoenix’s star guard. Booker had already missed eight of 10 games prior to the All-Star break due to a right ankle sprain, and this setback likely keeps him out at least four more contests.

That matters beyond just the Suns’ nightly availability. Booker is now pushing up against the 65-game threshold required for major postseason awards, and any extended absence puts that qualification in jeopardy.

Phoenix will err on the side of caution, as it should. But between the ankle, now the hip, and a compressed schedule ahead, this is another reminder that the Suns’ margin for error is getting thinner by the week.