Suns’ Devin Booker eclipses 50 points in 3 quarters during win vs. Bulls

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker had quite the encore to his 44-point Monday night against the Sacramento Kings.

On Wednesday against the Chicago Bulls (9-12), Booker scored 16 points in the second quarter and 26 in the third period, finishing the game with 51 points without touching the floor in the fourth quarter. He led the way in a 132-113 Suns (15-6) victory at home.

The “MVP” chants were loud.

DEVIN BOOKER HAS 51 POINTS AFTER 3 QUARTERS 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/yqBZBEEDP7

— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 1, 2022

Booker last scored 50 points in a game in 2019 and became the fourth player in the NBA to reach the mark this season.

The 26-year-old has reached 50 points four times in his career, although his 70-point performance against the Boston Celtics in 2017 will be tough to ever top.

Booker simply couldn’t miss, as he was 20-for-25 from the field and 6-for-7 from beyond the arc in 31 minutes Wednesday night.

James Harden in 2017 is the only other player over the last 25 years to score 50 points on 80% shooting through three quarters, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

DEVIN BOOKER IS IN GO MODE RIGHT NOW

🔥 26 PTS in Q3 (10/11 FGM)
🔥 51 PTS (20/25 FGM) and counting

Catch all the action on NBA Crunchtime
📲 https://t.co/l0hlhl5oOi pic.twitter.com/oYNT20pnm9

— NBA (@NBA) December 1, 2022

Booker also picked up six assists, a couple coming during a dazzling sequence with center Deandre Ayton in the second quarter.

It started with Booker lobbing an alley-oop pass to Ayton, who slammed it down. Booker came off a screen, drawing attention and allowing Ayton to sneak underneath unguarded.

Book to DA for the lob slam! pic.twitter.com/LfLw5A0l8H

— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) December 1, 2022

Booker followed that with a jumper on the next possession.

The two somehow topped the three-play sequence, as Booker fed the diving Ayton on a pick-and-roll between two Bulls defenders, and the center threw it down with gusto around the leaping help defender, Coby White.

DominAYTON putting pressure on the rim! 😤 pic.twitter.com/Bc8VapTtnH

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 1, 2022

They looked like the dream version of the duo when Phoenix drafted Ayton No. 1 in 2018, and the Suns went up 64-43 at halftime.

Phoenix outscored Chicago 32-18 in the second quarter.

Ayton put up numbers early in Wednesday’s matchup.

The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week had 11 points in his first five minutes on the floor.

Ayton picked up his seventh straight double-double with 30 points on 18 shots and 16 rebounds.

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