Suns update: Cameron Payne (foot), Landry Shamet (Achilles) set to return Monday at Knicks

NEW YORK — Phoenix is looking to get two key rotation players back for Monday’s afternoon game at New York.

Landry Shamet (sore right Achilles) and Cameron Payne (right foot strain) are expected to return after missing multiple games with their latest injuries.

Both are listed as probable.

“It’s huge, it’s huge,” Suns forward Torrey Craig said. “Everybody’s seen how our season is going with injuries. It’s good we have two of our key guys come back and try to get a win here.”

Payne hasn’t played since the first half of an Dec. 13 loss at Houston. He’s missed Phoenix’s last nine games.

Shamet has sat three consecutive games.

“I feel good,” Shamet said. “Training staff took care of me as they always do. I feel good. Body feels good.”

Payne and Shamet will be welcomed additions as the Suns (20-17) have lost five of their last six games to fall to seventh in the West, but they’re only four games out of first place heading into Sunday’s games.

“I’m not of the mindset that if we start thinking we’re going to be better when guys start getting back,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “That’s not the deal. Whether they come back or not, we can’t turn the ball over 27 times (in Friday’s loss at Toronto).”

Payne is averaging a career-best 12.7 points and 5.3 assists a game this season. His return gives Phoenix a change of pace as he plays faster than Chris Paul.

“Pace. Getting into the paint,” said Payne when asked what he can bring right away in his return. “Like touching the paint. I feel every time we touch the paint, something good happens and I feel like we got away from that. I feel like getting into the paint and bringing my energy.”

Shamet is coming off a 31-point effort in last week's Christmas overtime loss at Denver to match a career high he set just two games earlier in a home defeat against the Wizards.

“The things I try to control and bring every time is my voice, my talk and just a sense of pace,” Shamet said. “Whether I’m involved in the action or getting a shot or getting somebody else a shot, I think my first initial action can be kind of spark for our offense. I know I move kind of violently, pretty fast and it kind of sets the tone for offense sometimes.”

Devin Booker remains out with a left groin strain after re-aggravating it at Denver.

The All-Star guard is scheduled to be re-evaluated the last week of January. He missed the three previous games with groin soreness.

The Suns are 2-6 without Booker as he was sidelined two games at New Orleans and at Houston with left hamstring tightness.

Phoenix looks to get Cam Johnson back before Booker returns.

The Suns' starting forward has been out since tearing his right meniscus Nov. 4 at Portland. Johnson underwent a trim procedure on the ligament Nov. 8 that put him on a desirable two-month timetable to return.

“He’s just doing a lot of non-contact drills,” Williams said. “Nothing in our shell stuff, nothing in 5-on-5. No contact. It’s all been drills.”

Johnson isn’t expected to play during the road trip that ends Wednesday at Cleveland as he’s ruled out of Monday’s game, but he could return soon after.

The Suns have a two-game homestand Jan. 6 against Miami and Jan. 8 versus Cleveland before returning to the road for a four-game trip starting Jan. 10 at defending NBA champion Golden State.

Then again, seeing Booker re-injure himself has Phoenix even on more alert with injured players.

“You think about what's happened with us lately, we've got to almost create more boxes to check,” Williams said. “So that's probably going to happen with (Johnson). It certainly happened with Landry and Cam (Payne). We've got to make for sure, for sure that guys are ready to go."

The Knicks (19-18) are coming off an 108-88 victory Friday at Houston to snap a five-game losing skid.

Julius Randle continued his recent tear with 35 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against the Rockets. Always seeking contact, Randle attempted a season-high 16 free throw (made 12) in the win.

“He’s playing at an All-Star level,” Williams said. “I watched him last night. He basically took over the game and stretched out the lead with his ability to knock down 3s. And then to start, he was getting (Jabari) Smith (Jr.) in foul trouble.”

In his last six games, Randle is averaging 33.1 points on 52.6% shooting (25-of-59 from 3) and 12.3 rebounds.

“He’s a big, physical, aggressive scorer,” said Craig, who will likely draw the assignment of guarding Randle on Monday. “Just show him bodies and make everything tough. We’ve guarded him well in the past. I’m pretty sure we’ll come out and take care of business on him."

The Knicks are 1-5 in their last six games.

The Suns won the first meeting this season against New York, 116-95, Nov. 20 in Phoenix to start their season-long six-game win streak as Payne posted 21 points, nine assists and a season-high seven rebounds.

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: Cameron Payne, Landry Shamet set to return Phoenix Suns