PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker: Mask doesn’t really affect me

Jun 24, 2021, 10:50 PM

Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers pressures Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second...

Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers pressures Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of game three of the Western Conference Finals at Staples Center on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker said the mask he wore to protect his broken nose in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night did not affect him.

“I honestly don’t really see it and it doesn’t really affect me,” he said via Zoom postgame. “I talked to Rip (Hamilton) about it. I’ve been saying for a long time that he’s one of my favorite players of all time.

“I’ve had short conversations with him in the past and I thought this was the perfect time to talk to him some more and get some advice. He chopped it up with me for a minute, gave me some great feedback, put me in the right mindset to go out there. We have to just be better next game.”

Hamilton told Booker not to worry about the mask and to keep it on while shooting free throws so that it didn’t become a distraction.

Unfortunately for Suns fans, Booker’s stat line on the night would suggest the mask did have a negative effect.

The All-Star finished the 106-92 loss with 15 points on 5-of-21 shooting (23.8%) while going 1-for-7 from three (14.3%) and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Booker added five assists, five rebounds and one steal in 40 minutes played. He also had four turnovers and a plus-minus of -15.

After a historic triple-double in Game 1, he is 10-for-37 (27%) from the field in the past two games.

That’s mainly due to Clippers guard Pat Beverley, who is known for his defensive prowess and has been the main man guarding Booker in the series.

“He’s ultra-aggressive,” Booker said. “He’s denying, limiting touches. He has one objective out there and we understand that.

“I feel like other things should open (on the court). We need to look at the film, see what’s open and see what we can get.”

The loss marks the Suns’ first in nearly a month, as Phoenix’s nine-game winning streak was snapped on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

“The spirit is high. We move on to the next one,” Booker said of the Suns’ first loss since May 27. “That’s the type of team we are. We’ve been that way the whole season so we’re going to stick with that.

“We’ll come in tomorrow, go over film, regroup and get ready for Game 4.”

Phoenix will once again look to move one win away from a trip to the NBA Finals in Game 4 on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Phoenix Suns

Jusuf Nurkic...

Damon Allred

Jusuf Nurkic questionable for Suns’ matchup with Thunder; Bradley Beal no longer listed

The Phoenix Suns are listing center Jusuf Nurkic questionable for a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

14 hours ago

Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during th...

Kellan Olson

Suns respond to season’s low point with thorough win over Nuggets

The guessing game of which Suns team shows up on which night persists. The best current version did on Wednesday in a win over the Nuggets.

1 day ago

Bradley Beal #3 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the second half against the Boston Celtics at T...

David Veenstra

Bradley Beal in, Jusuf Nurkic out for Suns’ matchup with Nuggets

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal is active for Wednesday's matchup with the Denver Nuggets while center Jusuf Nurkic is out.

1 day ago

Tyler Kolek, Marquette...

Damon Allred

Here’s who Phoenix Suns fans should watch in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Suns' first round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft sits at No. 19 overall, and they could select a star from the NCAA Tournament.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns take on San Antonio Spurs...

Arizona Sports

O’Neale: Phoenix Suns took Spurs ‘too lightly’ in glaring loss

The Phoenix Suns' lack of effort was on display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, leading to an honest film session.

2 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Royce O’Neale: Suns took Spurs “a little too lightly”

Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale joined Burns & Gambo to talk about the team's disappointing loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, and to look ahead at the team's remaining schedule, as they continue to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

2 days ago

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker: Mask doesn’t really affect me