Suns injury news: Latest on Devin Booker's ankle

Friday night was not a good one for the Phoenix Suns, and not because they finally dropped a preseason game in a 109-91 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The same opponent they had beaten in Lansing a few nights earlier, when the vibes were altogether a lot higher.

Losing to a team who will struggle to make the play-in tournament wasn't the problem though. Neither was the fact that Ryan Dunn got to start for the team, having had some nice displays against the Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers prior to that. No, it was because of the reason Dunn got to step up in the first place.

Devin Booker's ankle soreness.

Four words no Suns fan wants to hear with the regular season now less than two weeks away. Not that panic levels should be critical, as the reason given for Booker sitting this one out was that aforementioned soreness of the ankle, and nothing more. No mention either of any further testing or scans, which is a massive plus.

When asked by the media if Booker is likely to figure next time out against the Denver Nuggets, head coach Mike Budenholzer responded with a curt "we'll see". Obviously the organization are going to air on the side of caution - and if there's any discomfort at all - you know Booker is going to sit for that one.

This couldn't have come at a worse time though, as the Suns as a group were looking nice and sharp and ready to roll into the regular season in that sort of form. Defensively they looked a step behind without Booker there - although Dunn can and will have his moments - while the 3-point explosion that had been on full display was blunted without their best player out there.

Not only that, but Bradley Beal was looking as comfortable as ever next to Booker and Kevin Durant, and seemed to be figuring out his place on the offensive end and playing with a rhythm it took him months to reach last season. If Booker is going to miss any amount of time at all, it will damage the budding chemistry that has been on full display between the three during preseason.

If there is to be any time missed, this might also be a good opportunity for Grayson Allen to see if he can win back some of the minutes he lost with the introduction of Tyus Jones to the starting five. He had a career year last season - and while he obviously doesn't come close to Booker's talent level - his shooting and bulked up frame mean he could fill a gap for a period of time.

Really though if the Suns want to make any noise at all in the Western Conference, Booker needs to be as healthy as he was last season at the very least. He played 68 games, a number the team would love to see rise, and this is not the first time an ankle has given him trouble. Let's hope the next update on this issue is a positive one.