By the numbers: Suns G Devin Booker’s Game 1 eruption vs. Clippers
Jun 21, 2021, 1:56 PM | Updated: 2:32 pm
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns shoots against Terance Mann #14 and Marcus Morris Sr. #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second quarter during game one of the Western Conference Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena on June 20, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The nation got a front row seat as Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker turned in the best playoff performance of his career on Sunday night.
The guard went berserk in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 40 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Booker shot an efficient 15-of-29 from the field (51.7%) and 3-of-7 from long range (42.9%). He made all seven of his free throw attempts.
Booker’s lights-out performance made up for point guard Chris Paul’s absence, helping Phoenix secure a 120-114 win over Los Angeles to take a 1-0 series lead.
With Booker’s Game 1 play the talk of the country, let’s dive deeper into his historical night:
4
Booker was head and shoulders above the rest Sunday night, leading both sides in points, rebounds and assists.
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Per ESPN Stats & Info, the guard joins LeBron James, Larry Bird and Bill Russell as the only four players to accomplish the feat in a conference/division finals game.
2005
Booker’s playoff triple-double hadn’t been something Suns fans had seen since Steve Nash did so back in 2005.
Against the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals, Nash put on a show, recording 34 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists in 42 minutes of action.
1993
Phoenix followers would have to go back even further in the history books when looking at 40-point triple-double efforts.
Booker is the first Sun since Charles Barkley in 1993 to record a triple-double with at least 40 points scored. Barkley’s impressive showing came in the Western Conference Finals against the Seattle Supersonics.
The Round Mound of Rebound finished with 43 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in the Game 5 win.
Coincidentally, both Suns squads took down their opponents 120-114.
6
With Sunday night’s showing, Booker now has multiple 40-point games under his belt in his first career postseason.
He joins Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Bob McAdoo, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to do so in NBA history.
5
Booker is among rare air after securing his first career triple-double in the postseason.
The guard joins Hall of Famers James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry Lucas and Bill Russell as the only players to do so over the past 60 seasons, per Elias Sports.
24
Booker’s first ever triple-double in the playoffs came at the age of 24.
Only Oscar Robertson and Doncic have recorded a postseason triple-double before turning 25, per StatMuse.
