When you know you know; Devin Booker calls 50-point outing midgame
Mar 27, 2019, 9:33 PM | Updated: Mar 28, 2019, 9:21 am
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Usually calling out a 50-point performance in the middle of a basketball game follows with laughter and a “just kidding.”
But when Devin Booker says he’s dropping 50, he’s dropping 50.
Not only did the guard get off to a hot start Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards, dropping 30 points in just 18 minutes, Booker knew it was going to be a 50-point kind of night.
“I’m going for 50.”@DevinBook letting us know 👀 pic.twitter.com/0WsKih07nL
— ESPN (@espn) March 28, 2019
That’s what you call confidence.
“You just feel it sometimes,” Booker said after setting a new career high in points scored at home. “Another saying I say is real hoopers know, you just know sometimes when you’re in rhythm. 30 in the first half.
“I was telling my brother, my brother sits there on the baseline, so I went up there to tell him. I didn’t expect anybody to see … At least I got it … I’m glad I got it. I would have looked bad if I didn’t.”
Devin Booker is ridiculous right now. 30 first-half points in 18 minutes.
— Vince Marotta (@Vincemarotta) March 28, 2019
It’s been a solid string of games for the Sun.
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In his last three games, Booker has scored 141 points, averaging 47 points over that span.
“Devin Booker is Devin Booker,” head coach Igor Kokoskov said after the game. “As a coach, as someone who cares about him, I’m happy for his numbers. That’s what he does. We know that.”
Prior to his 50 spot Wednesday night, Booker caught fire in Utah on Monday, dropping 59 points — 32 in the second half — in the losing effort.
With his 32-point second half against the Jazz and his 30-point effort Wednesday, Booker became just the third player in the last 15 seasons with back-to-back 30-point halves, per ESPN.
But that’s not all.
The guard also became the youngest player in NBA history with consecutive 50-point games.
Book getting a record like this past Wilt is pretty wild man. Wilt was 23 his rookie year FYI.
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) March 28, 2019
Something Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and Shaquille O’Neal never accomplished over the course of their careers. Active player LeBron James has also never dropped back-to-back 50-point games, as only three of the top 10 all-time leading scorers have ever put up two straight games of 50.
The guard was efficient too as Booker shot 65.5 percent from the field (33.3 percent from 3-point range). He also made 9 of his 10 free throw attempts.
“It’s just hoop, man, just trying to go out there and win,” Booker said. “Just put the work in and get to display it while I’m out there.”
He didn’t just score either as Booker added 10 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block.
But while Booker had a night to remember, the Suns couldn’t take home the win, falling to the Wizards, 124-121.
