Booker exits Suns' Game 3 loss after tripping on Dort's foot in 2026

Devin Booker left Suns' Game 3 with a left ankle injury after stepping on Lu Dort's foot but returned and scored key baskets.

Ankle Injury Incident Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was forced to leave Game 3 against the Oklahoma City Thunder midway through the third quarter due to a left ankle injury. The injury occurred when Booker, cutting toward the basket, stepped on Lu Dort's right foot and lost his footing. Booker later expressed uncertainty about whether the contact was deliberate, stating he saw Dort extend his leg slightly. He also mentioned that Dort raised his hand signaling a foul, but the call was not made. ## Team and League Reactions Phoenix coach Jordan Ott commented on the play, noting he initially saw Dort raise his hand as if signaling a foul. Ott emphasized that even if the call was unclear, the situation deprived his top player of action during a crucial playoff moment. The Suns have struggled with officiating decisions throughout the series. Booker had previously been fined $35,000 for criticizing officials after Game 2, though the league later dismissed claims of bias and overturned an improperly assessed technical foul. ## Booker's Quick Return and Performance After the injury, Booker temporarily left the court but returned within minutes. He hobbled to the bench before getting up and heading to the locker room, only to reappear at the scorer's table shortly afterward. The home crowd greeted his return with loud cheers, which grew even louder after he hit a baseline jumper and a three-pointer to bring Phoenix within six points. Oklahoma City responded with a run of six consecutive points and went on to win 121-109. Booker ended the game with 16 points and seven assists. ## Thunder's Dominant Night Oklahoma City secured a lopsided victory behind a dominant performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 42 points while making 15 of 18 shots. The Thunder's win moved them one step closer to completing a four-game sweep of the Suns. The series has been marked by contentious officiating calls, adding to the Suns' challenges. Earlier in the week, the league acknowledged that a flagrant foul on Bam Adebayo by LaMelo Ball should have resulted in an ejection, but the Suns' Booker-Dort incident took center stage in Game 3. ## League Rule Comparisons The Booker-Dort play occurred less than two weeks after the NBA admitted a missed ejection call in a separate playoff-related incident. In that case, LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte team pulled Bam Adebayo's ankle, leading to Adebayo missing a play-in game due to a back injury. The league's acknowledgment of the mistake drew comparisons to Booker's injury, which also stemmed from a questionable lower-body contact play. Both incidents have sparked discussions about officiating consistency and player safety during high-stakes games.