PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker returned to the lineup for Tuesday night's game against Memphis after missing five games with a left groin strain.
Booker last played Dec. 19 in a loss to Indiana. The Suns lost four of the five games they played without Booker, who is averaging 25.1 points and 6.4 assists.
Suns starting center Jusuf Nurkic is out while serving the second game of a three-game suspension for his involvement in a fight Friday night in a game against Dallas.
For the Grizzlies, guard Ja Morant is out indefinitely with a right shoulder strain, and rookie center Zach Edey is sidelined while in concussion protocol.
Memphis enters the game in Phoenix second in the Western Conference with a 22-11 record. Phoenix is 15-16, tied for 10th in the West.
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) drives on Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool manager Arne Slot was happy to see England’s referees’ body acknowledge it was wrong to not award Everton defender James Tarkowski a red card for a dangerous tackle on Alexis Mac Allister in the Merseyside derby.
Tarkowski was shown a yellow card for the foul that came early in Wednesday’s game at Anfield and was later described by the Premier League as reckless. The on-field sanction was upheld by the video assistant referee after a review.
The center back made contact with the ball but caught Mac Allister high on the back of the calf with his follow-through.
British media have reported that the PGMOL, the referees’ governing body, acknowledges Tarkowski’s yellow card should have been upgraded to red as the follow-through met the threshold for serious foul play.
“It's good that they acknowledged the mistake,” Slot said on Thursday in a news conference, “but I think that it was so clear. So many pundits who are not Liverpool fans, all of them are clear about it as well.”
After treatment, Mac Allister was able to play on and Liverpool won 1-0 to reclaim a 12-point lead in the league with eight games left.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Referee Samuel Barrott gives a yellow card to Everton's James Tarkowski for a foul on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Everton's James Tarkowski, left, fouls Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Everton's James Tarkowski, left, fouls Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Everton's James Tarkowski takes off his shirt to give to supporters after the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Everton's James Tarkowski, left, right Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Liverpool, England. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts after being fouled by Everton's James Tarkowski during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Everton's James Tarkowski, left, fouls Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
