Suns vs. Pelicans Game 3 odds: Devin Booker 2-3-week injury drops Phoenix to second favorite in Western Conference, still favored Friday

When it was initially announced that the Phoenix Suns likely would be without All-Star guard Devin Booker for Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference first-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Suns were still betting favorites to win the Western Conference and NBA title at Caesars Sportsbook and Booker was the NBA Finals MVP. Now that Booker may miss 2-3 weeks and the Warriors are up 3-0 in their first-round series, things have changed. The Suns are -1.5 for Game 3 in the Big Easy on Friday.

Booker lit up the Pelicans in the first half of Game 2 with 31 points and seven three-pointers – he became the only player over the last 25 seasons with 30 points in a half without a free throw in a playoff game -- but injured his hamstring with 4:45 left in the third quarter while jumping to challenge a Jaxson Hayes dunk in transition. Momentum completely swung at that moment as the Pels went on to win 125-114.

ESPN reported on Thursday – the Suns aren't saying anything – that Booker has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, and those usually take anywhere from 14-21 days from which to recover. That would obviously not only rule Booker out of this series but perhaps some of the West semifinals should Phoenix advance against either Dallas or Utah.

Booker is prone to hamstring issues. In November, he strained his left hamstring and missed seven games. Last year during the NBA Finals, he suffered a hamstring injury in Game 3 but played through it. The Suns were 8-6 in games without Booker this season (a few were when he sat out simply for rest) – they only lost 18 total times.

In the seven early-season games he missed injured, the Suns were 5-2 with a plus-3.1-point differential compared to the team's league-leading plus-7.4 mark over the course of the season. Booker put up MVP-caliber numbers in averaging 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Landry Shamet, who is a good shooter but doesn't offer much else, is likely to take his spot in the starting lineup. Shamet hadn't seen action in the series before Booker left Game 2 but played the majority of the remaining 17 minutes.

Golden State is now the +120 favorite in the West and +300 leader for the NBA title. The Suns are +220 and +450, respectively – still better title odds than any East team. Phoenix has dropped slightly to -300 to win the series vs. New Orleans, which is +240. It will be interesting to see those numbers following Game 3 if the Pelicans win.

For NBA Finals MVP, the Dubs' Steph Curry is now the +420 favorite with Boston's Jayson Tatum next at +650 and Booker third at +750. 

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