Sources: Suns' Devin Booker could return as soon as Tuesday

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, sidelined the past five weeks because of a left groin strain, could return as soon as Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN.

Booker has been ramping up his on-court work, and is expected to join the Suns at the start of a five-game road trip that begins Friday in Boston and continues Saturday at Detroit.

The Suns are 8-11 without Booker following Wednesday night's132-100 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Booker is averaging 27.1 points this season but has missed 24 games because of a combination of hamstring soreness and the groin strain.

At 27-26, Phoenix currently occupies the eighth spot in the Western Conference but is just a half-game out of fifth place.