Trail Blazers vs. Suns Wednesday NBA injury report, odds; Spread drops 3 points with Devin Booker out; Cameron Payne expected to return

It has been a while since a big-name NBA player has been placed in the league's COVID protocols as the league lessened restrictions a few weeks ago and things are normalizing nationwide, but it happened this afternoon with Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker ruled out for tonight's home game vs. Portland by landing in the health and safety protocols. That dropped the spread at Caesars Sportsbook from Suns -13.5 to -10.5. Click here for model picks. 

Of course, the Suns will be without All-Star point guard Chris Paul for perhaps the rest of the regular season after he was hurt right before the break. Booker has been the primary point guard in the three games since. Phoenix has gone 1-2 in those. Overall, Booker has led the team in scoring for five straight games and averages a team-best 25.6 points on the season along with 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

If Booker tested positive for COVID, he would have to quarantine for at least five days. The good news is the Suns still have a 6.5-game lead over Golden State for both the best record in the Western Conference and overall. Booker previously entered the protocols in September and missed media day and the start of training camp.

Phoenix is 5-2 without Booker this season, averaging 107.6 ppg. With him, the team is 44-10 and averages 114.4 ppg. The total dropped from 228 points to 224.5 for tonight's game with Booker out. The Suns enter on a two-game skid and have yet to lose three in a row this season.

There should be some good news in that primary backup point guard Cameron Payne (10.5 ppg, 3.6 apg) is expected to play for the first time since Jan. 22 due to a wrist injury. Payne went through a full practice Tuesday and is probable. Coach Monty Williams has started Cam Johnson in place of Paul, a move that had put Booker at the point. Payne presumably will move right into the starting lineup, although it's possible his minutes are limited initially.

Between trades (CJ McCollum, Norman Powell, Robert Covington) and injuries (Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic), the Blazers are essentially in tank mode as they try to improve their draft lottery chances. Portland enters having lost its past two games by a combined 67 points and those were at home. 

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