The Phoenix Suns could be without one of their top contributors for the foreseeable future.
Dillon Brooks has reportedly sustained a broken left hand on Saturday and will be sidelined indefinitely moving forward, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The starting forward suffered the injury in the Suns’ double-overtime win over the Orlando Magic, although it’s unclear when or how the injury occurred. The Mississauga, Ont., native subbed out at the 4:46 mark of the first quarter and did not return.
Brooks left with five points on 2-of-7 shooting to go with three rebounds in 7:14 of action before he exited the ball game.
Any absence for the 30-year-old would be a blow for the seventh-seeded Suns, as Brooks has been in the midst of a breakout campaign.
Entering Saturday, Brooks was averaging a career-best 21.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals through 49 appearances. He’s second on the Suns in scoring, only behind Devin Booker, who’s also battling injury.
The all-star guard is out at least one week due to a right hip strain.
Brooks and Booker have helped spearhead the Suns to a 33-24 record thus far, surpassing the expectations of most entering the year, after the franchise moved on from the likes of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
As for Brooks and when he may return, doctors will meet to determine a timetable.
The injury comes in his first appearance since serving a one-game suspension following his 16th technical foul of the season. By NBA rules, once a player or coach reaches 16 technical fouls on the season, they are automatically suspended for one game. Every two additional technical fouls received during the regular season will result in another automatic suspension.
