It was a bitter night in Atlanta for the Phoenix Suns, who head back home not only with a loss, but also with growing concern over the condition of Devin Booker, forced to leave the court late in the third quarter due to a right ankle injury.

The Suns guard went down with five seconds left in the third period after landing on the foot of Onyeka Okongwu in what initially appeared to be a routine basketball play. The contact caused an awkward twist of the ankle, leaving Booker on the floor for several minutes in visible pain.

After being attended to by the medical staff, Booker was able to get up and walk back to the locker room under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp. Following the game – a 110-103 loss for Phoenix against the Atlanta Hawks – the Suns’ No. 1 option was seen leaving the arena on crutches, a sign that immediately raised alarm bells.

He was pretty unlucky. We’ll have to evaluate the situation once we get back to Phoenix

Jordan Ott

At the moment, no official update has been provided on the severity of the injury, but Booker’s early exit weighed heavily on both the outcome of the game and the Suns’ short-term outlook.

Before being forced out, Booker was putting together another elite performance: 31 points in 28 minutes, once again confirming himself as Phoenix’s primary offensive engine.

Now all eyes turn to further medical evaluations, which will determine whether this is simply a sprain or something more serious.