Green Might Sit Out Sun Opener Against Lakers : Pro basketball: Back injury could end NBA’s longest current games-played streak at 567.

What if they gave a homecoming and the guest of honor didn’t show?

The Phoenix Suns are listing A.C. Green as questionable for Friday’s season opener against the Lakers at the Forum. Green has a strained lower back, suffered Monday in the Suns’ exhibition finale against Utah at America West Arena.

If Green does not play--Coach Paul Westphal said he has been told the back should loosen up--it would ruin Green’s debut with his new team and his return to Los Angeles, and end his consecutive games-played streak at 567, the longest current run in the NBA and ninth all-time.

Green has not missed a game since Nov. 16, 1986, and has never been kept out by an injury in eight seasons as a pro, all with the Lakers before joining the Suns this fall as a free agent. The only three games he missed were because of a coach’s decision.

The Lakers know all about injury problems. Doug Christie, the probable starting small forward, still isn’t able to practice all out because of a sprained ankle. Anthony Peeler, the starting shooting guard, remains sidelined because of tendinitis in his knee and may go on the injured list. Elden Campbell, the starting power forward, is doubtful because of a sprained ankle.

Campbell is supposed to defend against Charles Barkley on opening night, with Shawn Kemp as an encore Saturday at Seattle. If not he, then who?

Antonio Harvey, of course.

Sticking to the youth movement, Coach Randy Pfund said he would probably start the free-agent rookie from Pfeiffer College rather than moving Vlade Divac and using Sam Bowie at center. That’s only a jump from the NAIA to the best in the NBA with 171 minutes of exhibition experience.

“From Pfeiffer College to Charles Barkley is a heck of a leap,” Pfund said. “I don’t know who Antonio Harvey played against at Pfeiffer, but I don’t think it was anybody like Charles Barkley.”

The first cuts were made Tuesday, when guards Dexter Boney and Keith Johnson and forward Poncho Hodges were released, reducing the roster to 15. They lasted this long into camp because of the rash of injuries.

Three more players must go by Thursday afternoon, either to the waiver wire or the injured list.