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Phoenix Suns PF Dario Saric will miss the remainder of the 2021 NBA Finals after tearing his ACL in Game 1 vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Saric was forced to go to the locker room in the first half and did not return. The team confirmed Saric suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Injury update:
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) July 7, 2021
Suns forward/center Dario Šarić has sustained a torn ACL in his right knee. He will be out indefinitely.
Saric doesn’t really move the needle much in terms of the Suns odds to win the Finals. They’re still going to be favored on the spread (5.5 right now) and the series line (which is currently down). Saric had been averaging around 5 points and 3 rebounds over 10 minutes per game in the 2021 playoffs. He provided a bit of depth at forward, but that’s an area where the Suns should be fine.
With Saric out, maybe we see more of Frank Kaminsky off the bench. It’s more likely we just see Monty Williams focus on a front court rotation of Deandre Ayton, Torrey Craig and Jae Crowder at PF/C while Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges hold it down on the wing. The Bucks lack size behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez isn’t really a factor on the interior despite being a 7-footer.