PHOENIX SUNS
Paul George did not have fun guarding Suns’ Devin Booker, Josh Jackson
Mar 2, 2018, 8:41 PM
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George drives against Phoenix Suns guard Elfrid Payton (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Phoenix Suns’ two young guns made life difficult for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, and, in particular, Paul George.
One of the best defensive players in the league, George was on the other end of two highlight plays for Devin Booker and Josh Jackson.
In the late first quarter, the Suns were running in semi-transition when Jackson received a pass from Elfrid Payton on the wing.
Instead of sprinting straight to the rim like he would earlier in the season, Jackson took a second and performed a vicious spin move to George, leaving him standing at the elbow.
ROOK MOVES. pic.twitter.com/aJijYG9JJC
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 3, 2018
George couldn’t get away from it in the second half, either.
Coming off a screen from Alex Len off the ball, Booker was being guarded tight by George, notorious for his work defending players through off-ball actions.
George, though, saw a drive coming, and Booker had a feeling. A nasty step-back jumper reminiscent of what James Harden did to Wesley Johnson earlier in the week would follow.
Devin Booker just got Paul George. pic.twitter.com/XCtFby8TFl
— Scott Charlton (@Scott_Charlton) March 3, 2018
The two core young pieces for the Suns were having themselves a game against Oklahoma City.
In the mid-third quarter, Jackson was 6-of-8 from the field for 15 points and Booker was an astounding 13-of-19 shooting with 32 points, along with eight assists.
Booker reached 4,000 career points in the game, becoming the third-youngest to reach that mark behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
