On November 30, 2022, Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker erupted for 51 points, the third highest-scoring game of his career. Here’s a look at his performance that night.
51 Points
In a home game against the Chicago Bulls, Devin Booker seemed like he’d have a quiet game. He didn’t score for the first six minutes, and looked for open teammates rather than forcing a shot. With the Bulls playing top defenders like point guards Alex Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu, it felt like Booker would not have a high-scoring night. After the first six minutes, though, Booker started rolling. He ended with 25 points at the half, then notched an incredible 26-point third quarter to seal his 51-point night.
Scoring 51 is impressive enough, but there are plenty of factors that make Bookers performance even more unbelievable, most notably that he shot 80% from the field that night. Shooting 20-for-25 and being 6-for-7 from three, Booker was lights out. He added 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and a steal, and only had 2 turnovers. After the third quarter, the Suns were up by more than 20. Booker sat out the rest of the game, meaning that his 51 points were over just 3 quarters.
Booker just turned 26 and is having the best scoring season of his career so far. He’s averaging 29 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on the season, shooting with an effective field goal percentage of 55%.
DeAndre Ayton
Booker’s efficient shooting allowed other Suns players to shine. Center DeAndre Ayton notches 30 points and 14 rebounds on the same night. Ayton was also efficient, shooting 11-for-17 from the field. Ayton shot 8-for-9 from the foul line and added 2 blocks. These performances propelled the Suns to their sixth straight win, placing them at first in the Western Conference with a 15-6 record.
Final Thoughts
With a six-game winning streak and leading the Western Conference, the Suns are in good shape to contend for a championship. Last year, they ended with a 64-18 record, leading the Western Conference. However, they lost in the second round to the Dallas Mavericks in seven games. If the Suns can keep their foot on the gas, they can end at the top of the West and avoid last year’s mistakes.
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