Devin Booker (hamstring) out Suns-Rockets, Landry Shamet gets first start of season

HOUSTON — Devin Booker was talking to Monty Williams and dribbling a basketball at the same time Tuesday morning before making his way to the Toyota Center practice court to do some light shooting.

He’s itching to play, but the Phoenix Suns All-Star is listed out against the Houston Rockets (8-18) with left hamstring tightness.

“It feels good,” said Booker after the team shootaround.

Booker missed his first game of the season Sunday afternoon in New Orleans with the injury. The Suns (16-11) conclude a four-game road trip Thursday against the Los Angeles Clippers before returning home to face the Pelicans for the fourth and final time in the regular season Saturday in Phoenix.

“You don’t want to miss any games,” Booker said. “That was a different feeling, different preparation, but just understanding what we’re after and what we’re trying to get to. I feel healthy, I feel strong.”

The Suns are starting Landry Shamet in Booker's place for Tuesday's game. This will be Phoenix's eighth different starting lineup in 28th game as the Suns are starting Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Torrey Craig, Deandre Ayton and Shamet, who is making his first start of the season.

With a history of hamstring issues, Booker played through the tightness in Friday’s 128-117 loss to the Pelicans. He scored just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting as Williams took him out the game with 1:50 remaining and Phoenix (16-11) down eight points, 120-112.

“I didn’t see that normal Book look and I pulled him,” Williams said.

That was the start to a weekend in which Booker had his No. 2 Moss Point (Miss.) High jersey retired Saturday afternoon at the high school gym before thousands of friends, family and fans.

“It was dope, it was dope,” Bridges said. “I’ve never been to Moss Point, never been to Mississippi in my life. It was dope to be out there.”

The entire Suns team made the 90-minute trip from New Orleans to Moss Point for the ceremony and returned to New Orleans the same day.

“Yeah man, it was a lot of love,” Booker said. “I’m glad everybody got to see it and experience that big day. Know a little bit more about me now.”

On Sunday, Phoenix, minus Booker, fell to the Pelicans in overtime, 129-124, before a sellout crowd of 18,681 at Smoothie King Center.

Now the Suns will look to end a season-long four-game skid Tuesday against the Rockets, who beat them, 122-121, Dec. 2 in Phoenix.

“Every team deals with it,” said Bridges about the team injuries this season. “Just next man up. Just stick to what we do and get ready to play our way."

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Landry Shamet gets start as Devin Booker (hamstring) out Suns-Rockets