Suns update: Chris Paul (sore right heel) questionable for Friday's game at Orlando

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul (3) and shooting guard Devin Booker (1) talk and joke with parents during a marketing shoot for the 2022-2023 City Edition uniform at Footprint Center in Phoenix,
The Phoenix Suns previewed their new City Edition uniform at Footprint Center in Phoenix, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. The City Edition uniform pays tribute to the rich histories and cultures of the 22 tribes in Arizona and celebrates their shared love of basketball. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gould/The Republic
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ORLANDO — Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul is listed as questionable for Friday’s game at Orlando after sitting Wednesday’s win at Minnesota with a sore right heel.

Paul suffered the injury in the first half of Monday’s loss at Philadelphia trying to get around a screen set by 76ers backup big Paul Reed.

Scoring just two points in 14 minutes, Paul didn’t play in the second half. He was originally listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game, but Paul was later ruled out.

“It’s more about us being cautious,” said Suns coach Monty Williams before Wednesday’s game when asked if this is about pain tolerance for Paul or more.

NBA: SCOREBOARD | STANDINGS | STATISTICS

“Chris has pain on six, seven on a scale of one to 10 he plays through, but it’s about us protecting him from himself. It’s also a way to give his body some rest. We played a ton in the preseason. He didn’t take many days off. I had to give him a ton of days off. They’ve been getting after it for a while. So we kind of expected some bumps and bruises, but we feel like we’re in better shape, but that comes with a cost sometimes. This is about us managing him. If Chris can go, he’ll go. We also have to be smart.”

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, tries to get past Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey, left, tries to get past Phoenix Suns' Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Paul sat in the visitor locker room at Target Center before Wednesday’s game with his feet in a red two-section bucket of ice.

In good spirits, Paul let it be known he’ll be back, but the veteran All-Star watched the Suns (8-3) lead by as many as 27 points in the 129-117 victory.

Devin Booker scored a game-high 32 points, Mikal Bridges rose up for a season-high 31, three short of tying his career high, and Cameron Payne, the man who started for Paul, finished with 23 points, eight assists, six rebounds and zero turnovers in 35 minutes.

“C always sets the tone for taking care of the ball,” Payne said. “That was a big thing on my mind, trying to be efficient on the offensive end without turning the ball over. I’ve been turning the ball over a lot lately.”

Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne celebrates his 3-point field goal, on which he was fouled by a Minnesota Timberwolves player during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Suns won 129-117. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Phoenix Suns guard Cameron Payne celebrates his 3-point field goal, on which he was fouled by a Minnesota Timberwolves player during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Suns won 129-117. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Payne had a total of eight turnovers in his previous three games. Payne was sidelined two games with a sore left foot before returning to action against Philadelphia.

The Suns are also down Cam Johnson, who underwent a procedure Tuesday for a torn right meniscus. Ish Wainright remains out for personal reasons as his dad passed away while Jae Crowder is not with the team as the Suns have been trying to trade him.

Phoenix flew Thursday from Minneapolis to Tampa amid Hurricane Nicole and then took a chartered bus from Tampa to Orlando.

The team arrived in Orlando on Thursday evening.

The Suns conclude their four-game road trip Monday at Miami (4-7).

The Magic (3-9) are coming off a 94-87 win over Dallas without top overall pick Paolo Banchero. The rookie big is listed as questionable for Friday’s game with a left ankle sprain.

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: Suns update: Chris Paul (heel) questionable for Friday at Orlando