Devin Booker drops 62 points, 1st player in Suns history with multiple 60-point games

In the span of five days, two former Kentucky Wildcats have scored 62 points in a single NBA game.

First, it was Karl-Anthony Towns on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets. On Friday night, it was Devin Booker against the Indiana Pacers.

Booker poured in 29 points during the first quarter for the Phoenix Suns, breaking his own franchise record. He reached his 62 total points on 22-37 shooting (6-12 from deep) including a 12-13 mark from the free throw line. Unfortunately — as was the case with Towns earlier this week — Booker’s performance came in a 133-131 loss.

Thanks to an Obi Toppin putback with 3.4 seconds in regulation, the Pacers successfully overcame a 17-point hole to spoil Booker’s historic evening. The former ‘Cat could have won it at the buzzer but missed his final attempt.

Booker’s performance was still one for the record books. It wasn’t quite his career-best of 70 points, which he scored back in 2017, but Friday night’s 62 points tie him all-time with Wilt Chamberlain (6x), Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Steph Curry, and Towns. Pretty good company. Booker is the first in franchise history to register multiple 60-point games.

And oh yeah, also on Friday night, Luka Doncic scored 73 points for the Dallas Mavericks in a 148-143 win over the Atlanta Hawks. That’s tied for fourth-most all-time. Joel Embiid dropped 70 points the same day as Towns did too. The NBA is extra wild this week.