LOS ANGELES — Booker Devin has been a good goalscorer since he entered the league in 2016. But he’s taken it to the next level ever since. Kevin Durant joined phoenix sun in February.
Booker scored a top 45 in the game shooting 18 to 29 (62%) in the Suns’ 129-124 win over the Clippers in Game 3 on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, as Phoenix won 2- 1 lead in the best first seven series.
Booker has now scored 109 points in the first three games of the series, the most for a Suns player since Charles Barkley (112 points) in 1994.
“You can’t leave [Durant], clear. He attracted a lot of attention,” said Booker. “I scored a lot of boxes, I went up to him right after and said, ‘You opened that score.'”
Durant scored 28 points on his own, making 11 to 11 from the free throw, as the Clippers threw multiple defenders and looked at him for compensation. Kawhi Leonard missed the game because of a knee injury.
Suns coach Monty Williams joked: “Sometimes I almost feel bad for Kevin because he’s like an expensive bait out there. “He was standing at 28 feet and the defender was right in front of him. That gave Book some opportunities to attack the basket.
“Even when we run him in the act… sometimes two people go with Kevin when he’s off the screen. So that opens the door for others.”
Booker was enjoying on space.
Thursday night, Booker won 7 to 11 in on-field scoring attempts. Of those 11 opening attempts, Durant was on the field on 10 occasions, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information.
“Maybe I didn’t make that thing,” Durant joked afterward, recalling one particular play for which Booker credited him for opening a shot. “He’s so nice, he can get anything he wants. It’s just that they can’t be as helpful or as active.”
This is the chemistry the Suns were hoping for when they traded for Durant mid-season. The challenge that trading creates is sacrificing key players and depth to create a super heavyweight team around Booker, Durant, Chris Paul And Deandre Ayton.
That means heavy minutes for the stars in the knockout stages. Booker played nearly 45 minutes on Thursday and sat just 12 minutes in three games of the series so far. Williams admitted that wasn’t ideal during what Phoenix hopes is a long playoff. But the Clippers forced Phoenix into that position after a bad attempt from Norman Powell (42) points, Russell Westbrook (30 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds) and Hyland bone (20 points).
LA even took the lead 119-116 thanks to Westbrook’s free throw with 1:44 time remaining, but Torrey Craig hit a three-point clutch from Durant’s assist to extend the lead to 122-116 and Booker hit a 5-foot runner and made a free throw to seal the victory for Phoenix.
“The time has come,” Booker said. “Win or go home. I love it. I’ve devoted my whole life, and I’ve had since I was a kid, to this sport and this game. This phase is all we are about. we can ask.
“[Clippers coach Tyronn Lue] does a good job converting it through. It feels like each time they take possession they are in a different defense. It’s about recognizing that and trying to take advantage and get the best out of the situation.”
Fifth, the Clippers threw all eyes on Booker, but to no avail. He scored against all eight half-field defenders he faced while playing 5 to 6 during the transition.
“I hope the Clippers will adjust, try to take me away [next game],” said Booker. “Then it would be [Durant’s] time to do it. It’s just the way we play.”
