12/22/2023 0 Comments Booker suns![]() ![]() "Just trying to be aggressive, being ultra-aggressive," Booker said. ![]() He became only the second player in NBA history to shoot at least 80% from the floor while scoring 45 points or more in a playoff game, joining Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who did so in the 2011 West finals against Kevin Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder. He was pretty efficient."īooker, often creating his own shot while handling much of the point guard responsibilities, was historically efficient, shooting 20-of-25 from the floor and 5-of-8 from 3-point range. I think he allowed the game to happen naturally and then when there were opportunities for him to push the issue. He understands not having Chris puts more on his plate, but I don't think he forced it the way that you would think. "He doesn't run from the tough stuff," Suns coach Monty Williams said of Booker. He has scored 295 points in these playoffs, the most by any player in the first eight games of the postseason since Michael Jordan in 1990, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. "It's not time to fold up now," Booker said after matching his career playoff high with a 47-point performance to lead the Suns to a 121-114 win over the Nuggets at Footprint Center.īooker also had nine assists in his most impressive performance of a spectacular playoff run that has included three 45-point outings. Phoenix needed even more from Booker, who is leading the NBA in scoring and minutes during these playoffs. His future Hall of Fame backcourt mate, Chris Paul, was sidelined for Friday's Game 3 and likely longer due to a strained left groin. His Suns trailed the top-seeded Denver Nuggets 0-2 in their Western Conference semifinal series. PHOENIX - Suns superstar Devin Booker remembers dreaming as a kid about dealing with this kind of pressure. Shamet finished with five points on 2-for-3 shooting and a steal in 12 minutes.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭevin Booker, Kevin Durant combine for 86 points, keep Suns afloat Shamet didn't play at all against New Orleans until Booker's injury, but checked in as soon as Booker exited on Tuesday. And I think we'll find a way to do that." "But we just gotta sort of do more together. "Without him, I think a lot of guys probably think you gotta do more," Paul told reporters Thursday, via PHNX Sports. The Suns' road just got significantly tougher, but this is a deep, disciplined team with an offensive system that turns everyone on the floor into a threat. Either way, expect Paul to assume more playmaking responsibility and backup guard Cameron Payne to get more playing time if Phoenix's offense needs a jolt. In Booker's place, Williams could choose to match the Pelicans' size by starting Sixth Man of the Year finalist Cameron Johnson or he could preserve the second unit by going with sharpshooter Landry Shamet. ![]() Making up for the absence of your top scorer is a much taller order against a team that you've faced multiple times in a short period of time. It made up for some of that, though, by being 5.5 points per 100 possessions stingier on defense without him. In the regular season, Phoenix scored a scorching 119.5 points per 100 possessions with Booker on the court and a dismal 110.4 per 100 without him, per Cleaning The Glass, which filters out garbage time. (The Bucks' stars were available, but rotation players Brook Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Pat Connaughton and George Hill were not.) Seven of Booker's missed games were due to a hamstring injury he suffered in November. In March, the Suns hung with the Milwaukee Bucks for three quarters before losing by 10 without Booker or Paul. In December, Phoenix blew out a Boston Celtics team that was still starting Dennis Schroder, and then it lost by 22 to a Golden State Warriors team that was on a tear. 1 seed, only three of those games were against playoff opponents. They no longer have home-court advantage, and, while they had an 8-3 record in the 11 games they played without Booker before clinching the No. ![]() The Suns will remain favorites as the series shifts to New Orleans, but the pressure is on. There was an error processing your subscription. ![]()
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