Getty Image / Christian Petersen
Going into last night’s game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Phoenix Suns were on the brink of elimination. They had lost the first two games of the series against the top-seeded Denver Nuggets in Denver to go down 2-0, and no NBA team has never come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. But, star guard Devin Booker had other ideas.
Devin Booker has had a great playoffs so far. Heading into Friday’s game, he had four games out of the seven the Suns have played in the postseason of 35 points or more. And, with Chris Paul out due to injury and DeAndre Ayton turning into a pumpkin, it was very important for Booker and teammate Kevin Durant to step up in a big way.
And, they did. Booker especially put on a show. Durant chipped in with 39 of his own. The Suns won 121-114, and all of a sudden we have a series.
DEVIN BOOKER GOES FOR 47 🔥#PLAYOFFMODE MASTERPIECE
20-25 FG
9 AST
3 STL@Suns WDEN/PHX Game 4: Sun, 8 PM ET | TNT pic.twitter.com/u4rfw686Hu
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2023
But, the peripherals on Devin Booker’s night were even better than just the 49 points. He was an astounding 20-25 from the field. That’s unheard for any player, let alone a guard. He made an astounding sixteen jump shots. That’s an incomprehensible number. It was historic efficiency.
Devin Booker with 47 points on 20/25 shots
Incredible performance.
And it's only the fourth time in NBA playoff history a player has scored 40+ points on 80% FG or better:
Dirk Nowitzki: 48, 12/15 (5/7/11)
Terry Porter: 41, 12/14 (5/19/92)
Elton Brand: 40, 18/22 (5/8/06)… pic.twitter.com/aIIOK8VYHJ— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 6, 2023
Insane when you watch all the makes from last night consecutively. Booker went 20-for-25 while making SIXTEEN JUMP SHOTS.https://t.co/WNmZN6EbEj
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) May 6, 2023
And, Twitter is giving Devin Booker his laurels.
Without Devin Booker, the Suns' season would already be over.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 6, 2023
This is insane. Devin Booker is giving us Michael Jordan-level play and the rest of the team is completely wasting it.
— Max (@maxmcc11) May 6, 2023
If Devin Booker has millions of fans, I am one of them.
If Devin Booker has 10 fans, I am still one of them.
If Devin Booker has 1 fan, it's me.
If Devin Booker has no fans, I'm no longer on this earth.
If the world is against Devin Booker, I am against the world. pic.twitter.com/CCKUbkNwUi
— Khiz (@KhizHoop) May 6, 2023
Devin Booker is the best player in the NBA right now.
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) May 6, 2023
Devin Booker and the Suns will look to even up the series at 2 apiece on Sunday.