Can Booker and Paul both be All-Stars?

Monty Williams wasn’t ready to think about Brooklyn right after Sunday’s 109-90 win over Orlando in the second of a back-to-back at Phoenix Suns Arena.

“We’re going to enjoy this one,” he said.

The Suns (17-9) have been enjoying many victories lately.

Six straight wins. Won nine of their last 10. Bleacher Report has the Suns second in its latest power ranking behind only Utah and ahead of the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

They’re only 26 games into this NBA-shortened 72-game season, but the Suns are fourth in the Western Conference and playing like a playoff team.

“This is a winning team and we’re turning into a winning legacy and we’re going to keep it that way,” Suns center Deandre Ayton said.

Their latest challenge Tuesday night to conclude a seven-game homestand is the most anticipated to date.

The Nets (16-12) are coached by a familiar face in Steve Nash.

Nash, a two-time MVP and Hall of Famer, orchestrated ‘”Seven Seconds or Less” in Phoenix under Mike D’Antoni, who is now one of his assistants.

Nash has already joked Suns team owner Robert Sarver will “monetize” on their return as the Suns will double the fan limit at the game from 1,500 to 3,000 amid the COVID-19 pandemic starting Tuesday.

Brooklyn will be without Kevin Durant (left hamstring strain), but Kyrie Irving and James Harden will be plenty enough to handle.

And Tyler Johnson will face Phoenix for the first time since the Suns waived him in February 2020.

TNT is televising the 8 p.m. game. The Suns have a chance to go undefeated in this seven-game homestand

The Suns say every game is important, meaning this game isn’t bigger than any of the others. That’s debatable, but it feels different than any of the others they’ve played.

Before digging into Tuesday’s matchup, here’s a look back at Phoenix’s back-to-back wins over Philadelphia and Orlando.

Player of back-to-back wins: Devin Booker

He’s looked like someone deserving of a second consecutive All-Star appearance since returning from a four-game absence with a left hamstring strain.

Scoring 17 points in the first quarter Sunday, Booker is averaging 27.2 points on 52.6% shooting (40.9% on 3s) in his seven games back from injury.

He dropped a game-high 36 Saturday and 27 Sunday in earning Western Conference player of the week honors for the first time in his six-year NBA career.

Adding six assists Sunday, Booker didn’t turn the ball over for the first time since Jan. 9 at Indiana. It’s only the second game this season he hasn’t committed a turnover.

Booker’s All-Star chances

Booker isn’t likely going to make the All-Star game as a starter. He was still sixth in the fan voting for guards in the West after the second return of votes.

Fans make up 50% of starter votes while media and current players split the other 50%.

Booker needs the head coaches to vote him into the expected March 7 game in Atlanta.

While Booker stands a good chance to make it as a reserve in large part because the Suns are rolling right now, he may split votes with his teammate, point guard Chris Paul.

Paul is seen by many as the difference maker for Phoenix just as he was last season in Oklahoma City when making the all-star game for the 10th time.

He’s essentially averaging the same numbers he did last season in OKC.

● 2019-20 (OKC): 17.6 ppg., 48.9 FG%, 36.5% 3PT, 90.7 FT%, 5 rpg., 6.7 apg.

● 2020-21 (PHX): 16.7 ppg., 48.2 FG%, 35.8 3PT, 97.1 FT%, 4.7 rpg., 8.2 apg.

Sixth in the NBA in assists, Paul has seven double-doubles. Booker hit the gamer winner Feb. 1 to stun Dallas, but Paul scored a team-high 34 that night after posting 29 and 12 dimes in leading the Suns past the Mavs with Booker sidelined.

Paul scored 28 in the win over Milwaukee and nearly posted a triple-double in Phoenix’s last two games.

Tough call

A case can be made for Booker and Paul, but they may split those votes.

The coaches vote for two backcourt players, three frontcourt players and two “wild cards,” meaning they can vote for a frontcourt or backcourt player for those spots.

Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic will likely be starting guards in the West, leaving Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Booker and Paul in the reserve running.

Best case scenario for Booker and Paul to both make it is for one to land a mandatory backcourt spot and the other to get a wild card.

Mitchell is in. The Jazz have NBA’s best record. He’s the big part of that.

Lillard is one of the game’s best players while Morant is an electrifying talent who has kept Memphis afloat amid injuries.

LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard will start in the frontcourt. The three mandatory frontcourt reserves will probably go to Anthony Davis, Paul George and Zion Williamson.

It may come down to Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, a first-time allstar last year, DeMar DeRozan, Paul, Booker and Morant for the two “wild cards.”

Who checks Harden and Irving?

Williams says Booker doesn’t duck a matchup.

So he’d naturally guard Harden against Brooklyn Tuesday. Harden is perhaps the game’s most unguardable player.

Booker’s taking greater pride in his defense, but Williams should start Mikal Bridges on Harden and Paul on Irving.

Booker may start off guarding Joe Harris. No cakewalk, but not as challenging as defending Harden or Irving, who will test Paul’s sore hamstring early and often.

The Suns may defend by committee. A little Cameron Payne. Some Jevon Carter perhaps.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. As great as Booker and Paul are, and have recently been together, Phoenix’s advantage is inside with Deandre Ayton over anyone the Nets throw at him starting with Deandre Jordan.

Ayton took a total of 13 shots in his last two games.

He should at least reach that number Tuesday.

Smith to G-League

Williams declined to confirm Sunday on what seemed inevitable.

Rookie Jalen Smith is headed to the G-League, the team announced Monday.

The Suns have assigned the 10th overall pick out of Maryland to the Agua Caliente Clippers, the G-League affiliate of the L.A. Clippers, in the Orlando bubble.

Makes sense.

He’s seen little action. Smith played a total of 10 minutes in his last three games. He also missed time after testing positive for COVID-19.