BBNBA: Devin Booker goes for 49 during rollicking win in Denver
Kentucky guys only participated in one NBA game on Thursday night, but boy was it a doozy. Let’s get right into it.
Booker drops season-high in Suns-Nuggets score-fest
Both of Denver’s pro sports stadiums caught fire on Thursday. Mile-high stadium actually burned while the Nuggets’ arena was engulfed by two of the hottest offenses in the NBA. With Chris Paul returning from injury and Nikola Jokic operating on the other sideline, the Nuggets and Suns produced one of the highest-scoring games of the NBA season.
Both teams eclipsed the century mark in the third quarter and the Suns simply out-scored the Nuggets in the fourth to cruise to a 140-130 victory. Paul played well in his first action after missing 15 games, recording 17 points and 13 assists in a smooth transition back to serving as Phoenix’s point guard. But the real story once again is Devin Armani Booker. He dropped a season-high 49 points in masterclass fashion.
A number as staggering as 49 is impressive on its own, but how Booker got to nearly 50 was what stuck out to me. He knocked down just two triples as most of his points came from contact. He finished through four different and-one opportunities and made 15 free throws on the night. His defense produced a handful of buckets. Booker left Jokic wailing and flailing on several occasions after a steal and a bucket. It was such an alpha performance. The whole week, really.
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Phoenix just completed a two-day road sweep of two of the hottest Western Conference teams besides themselves, winning in Denver and in Minnesota. They also beat Sacramento on the road last Sunday to make it a clean 3-0 record over their road trip — during which Booker averaged 36 points while making 35 total free throws. Grossly efficient scoring from D-Book lately.
Additionally, the Suns earned their 60th win of the season in Denver, clinching the No. 1 overall seed in the Western Conference Playoffs now that they’re nine games ahead of Golden State for the NBA’s best record with just eight to play. The postseason is always unpredictable, but if these guys stay healthy, I just think the Suns are going to smoke the rest of the league on their way to a title. They’ve been the best team from start to finish this season, even without Paul and Booker for certain spurts.
This is Phoenix’s title to lose.
| Player | Result | Points | FG(3PA) | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Turnovers | Minutes | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker (PHO) | 140-130 W @ DEN | 49 | 16-25 (2-5) | 4 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 38 | +16 |
| DeMarcus Cousins (DEN) | 140-130 L vs. PHO | 10 | 4-8 (1-4) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | +5 |
| Isaiah Jackson (IND) | 133-103 L @ MEM | DNP – Headache | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rajón Rondo (CLE) | 117-104 L @ TOR | DNP – Toe | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Today in the Association
7:00: Jazz @ Hornets (Richards, Washington)
7:00: Wizards @ Pistons (Diallo)
7:30 (NBA TV): Warriors @ Hawks (Knox)
8:00: Knicks (Noel, Quickley, Randle) @ Heat (Adebayo, Herro)
8:00: Mavericks @ Timberwolves (Towns, Vanderbilt)
10:00: Rockets (Wall; out) @ Trail Blazers (Bledsoe)
10:30 (NBA TV): 76ers (Maxey) @ Clippers (Boston Jr.)
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