BBNBA: Devin Booker's 34 Leads Suns to win over Defending Champions

Devin Booker has as much to prove as anyone in the entire NBA for the 2022-23 season. In an embarrassing Game 7 loss to the Mavericks in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals, Booker had 11 points on 4/11 shooting. Safe to say the Suns had to face the noise on social media as the Warriors went on the win it all. Booker has looked every bit like a man on a mission in the first four games of the season, averaging 32.5 points per game.

Suns beat Warriors in possible WCF preview

The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors met on Tuesday in a great primetime NBA matchup. The Suns won big at home 134-105 behind a Devin Booker 34-piece and a Deandre Ayton double-double. Tensions flared in the third quarter as the two squads combined for seven technical fouls, which tied for the most in a quarter in NBA history. A majority of the feud centered around both teams’ shooting guards; as Klay Thompson and Booker jawed with each other, the tensions began to flare. It was during a timeout that the two bumped into each other and Klay held up the four fingers (to signify the Warriors’ four rings) that earned him his ejection.

“I love Klay Thompson, I have for a really long time,” Booker said about the squabble, per ESPN. “But that doesn’t excuse us from being competitive and talking to each other. I’ve always admired his game, how he plays on both sides of the ball, and obviously the rings speak for themselves.”

As the tension went up, so did D-Book’s scoring. Not only did he put up an astonishing 34 points (on one of the better wing defenders in the league), he did so efficiently. Booker was 10/19 from the field, 11/14 from the line, and added seven assists. His fellow co-stars, Chris Paul and Ayton, combined for 32 points, 13 assists, and 21 rebounds. Booker was also able to hold Thompson to 1/8 shooting and just two points.

The Suns move to 3-1 on the year.

Devin Booker balled out in the @Suns win!
34 PTS
7 AST
3 STL pic.twitter.com/svhszbnkUd

— NBA (@NBA) October 26, 2022

SGA STARS in Thunder win over former team

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been handed the keys to the palace in Oklahoma City, and rightfully so. SGA broke NBA records with the win over his former team the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. He was the first player in the history of the NBA to have the following stat line, per Brandon Rahbar of the Daily Thunder.

• 30+ points
• 8+ assists
• 3+ blocks
• 3+ steals
• 100% from 3
• 100% from FT

Only one player in NBA history has ever put up this stat line in the same game:

30+ points
8+ assists
3+ blocks
3+ steals
100% from 3
100% from the FT line

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tonight. https://t.co/Rxc48pTE8K pic.twitter.com/Q6Aj41OUcD

— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) October 26, 2022

Gilgeous-Alexander has enjoyed an efficient 2022-23 campaign. The Clippers’ former 11th overall pick has averaged 31 points across three games this season. Where the real improvement lies is on the percentage end. His FG% percentage has gone up two points. His 3P% has shot up four points and is only going to skyrocket as the season progresses. SGA has kept his paced, patient scoring that made every Wildcat fan love him in Lexington.

The Clippers have two Wildcats on the roster currently. The offseason signing of John Wall sent a shockwave through social media. Everyone has eagerly awaited the return of 2017 Wall, and he’s started the year better than he has in previous ones. Wall has come off the bench and averaged 14.7 points in 21.7 minutes per outing. Unfortunately, Wall’s 12 points weren’t enough for the Clippers to pull off the win as they move to 2-2 on the year. Former Wildcat Brandon Boston Jr. also added six points as he’s started to carve out a role. Boston has always been able to score at will, he just needed to have a better shot selection.

Statistics from 10/25/22

Player	Score	PTS	FG (3PT)	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	MIN	+/-
Devin Booker (PHX)	134-105 W vs. GSW	34	10/19 (3-8)	2	7	3	0	3	35	32
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)	108-94 W vs. LAC	33	11/22 (2-2)	5	8	3	3	2	37	23
John Wall (LAC)	108-94 L @ OKC	12	4/9 (1-3)	3	4	2	0	4	20	2
Hamidou Diallo (DET)	120-99 L @ WAS	7	3/5 (0-0)	7	0	0	0	0	17	0
Brandon Boston Jr. (LAC)	108-94 L @ OKC	6	3/4 (0-0)	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
Kevin Knox (DET)	120-99 L @ WAS	2	1-2 (0-0)	0	0	1	0	0	3	-5
Nerlens Noel (DET)	120-99 L @ WAS	DNP- CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Tonight in the NBA

7:00: Magic @ Cavaliers
7:00: Hawks @ Pistons (Diallo, Knox, Noel)
7:30: Hornets (Richards, PJ Washington) @ Knicks (Randle, Quickley)
7:30: 76ers (Maxey) @ Raptors
7:30 (ESPN): Nets @ Bucks
8:00: Pacers (Jackson) @ Bulls
8:00: Spurs (Johnson) @ Timberwolves (Towns)
9:00: Rockets (TyTy Washington) @ Jazz (Vanderbilt)
10:00 (ESPN): Lakers (Davis, Gabriel) @ Nuggets (Murray)
10:00: Heat (Adebayo, Herro) @ Trail Blazers (Sarr, Sharpe)