Devin Booker scores season-high 58 points in Suns’ comeback win over Pelicans
Dec 17, 2022, 9:31 PM | Updated: Dec 18, 2022, 12:14 am
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a shot against Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the New Orleans Pelicansduring the first half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on December 17, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Devin Armani Booker is not human.
The Phoenix Suns guard set a new season-high for points scored in Friday night’s 118-114 comeback win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The All-Star finished with 58 points on 60% shooting (21-for-35), including 6-of-12 from three (50%) and 10-for-15 from the free throw line (66.7%). He also added five assists and five rebounds in over 42 minutes played on the night.
That point total is also a record for the most points at Footprint Center.
“One hundred percent, I always bring it back to the franchise that believed in me,” Booker told reporters postgame when asked if he can enjoy the arena point record. “They drafted the 18-year-old kid out of Kentucky.
“To be here through the ups-and-downs and to have the struggle years and the people still stay with us and with me and believe, to do it here in front of our home crowd was very important.”
A whopping 20 of those points came in the third quarter alone, which featured a 15-0 run from the Suns to cut the Pelicans’ lead to just four after 36 minutes of play.
Phoenix trailed New Orleans 63-46 at halftime. The 24-point comeback marks the team’s third-largest over the last 25 seasons and the Suns’ greatest comeback since 2012 when they trailed the Cleveland Cavaliers by 26.
“Book is an amazing basketball player, not just a scorer,” head coach Monty Williams told reporters postgame. “I thought the competitive edge tonight gave us a lot of juice.
“At halftime, I showed clips — we have to go out there and play with some confidence. I did not see the confidence level at the place where we typically have it. We cannot let shots dictate our confidence. I thought Book led the charge in the second half. It was just an impressive night.”
Booker also scored 25 straight points for the Suns at one point between the third and fourth quarters until a Josh Okogie two ended that streak.
He finished with 49.2% of the Suns’ total points and becomes the first player in franchise history to have two 50-point games in two different seasons. Tom Chambers is the only other Suns player to have two in one season (1989-90).
“It’s unreal,” Chris Paul told reporters postgame. “I’ve had the opportunity to play with a lot of greats — Blake Griffin, James Harden and now Book. Sheesh, you just try not to get caught watching.”
One notable NBA star and one of Booker’s biggest fans took notice in Los Angles Lakers forward LeBron James:
Book going NUTSO right now!!! Sheesh
— LeBron James (@KingJames) December 18, 2022
James has tweeted in the past that Booker is the most underrated player in the league.
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma also chimed in:
Booooooook @DevinBook
— kuz (@kylekuzma) December 18, 2022
Booker’s best-ever point performance was when he dropped 70 against the Celtics in Boston in March 2017.
The 26-year-old also passed the 12,000 career points mark to become the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to achieve the feat, trailing only James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady.
And when a man is that on fire, there’s only one way to stop him:
🔥 THAT MAN WAS ON FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IXIl5VZsyt
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 18, 2022
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