Devin Booker is rapidly changing into a franchise legend in Phoenix.
SIGN UP TO WATCH EVERY GAME ON NBA LEAGUE PASS: U.S. and U.Ok. | All different international locations
After scoring 26 and 38 factors within the first two video games of the sequence, Booker stepped it up in Sport 3, dropping 45 factors to energy the Suns to a 129-124 win over the Clippers.
Booker’s 45 is simply two shy of his playoff career-high of 47 factors, which got here in opposition to the Lakers in 2021 and is probably the most factors scored in a single recreation within the 2022-23 playoffs thus far.
He added six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks, taking pictures 18-of-29 from the sector, and 3-of-7 from the 3-point line because the Suns take a 2-1 sequence lead.
Past the win, Booker etched his identify within the Suns’ document books, tying Charles Barkley for probably the most 40-point video games within the playoffs, with 5.
Devin Booker now has 5 40-point video games within the playoffs, matching Charles Barkley for many in Suns historical past 🔥 pic.twitter.com/66UjLXswpM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 21, 2023
“I am simply put in the best conditions,” Booker stated postgame.
“We have now KD out right here, we’ve Chris Paul, these guys appeal to plenty of consideration, and it opens up spots for me.
“Coach does a very good job of placing us in conditions the place we will succeed and that is simply what we have been doing.”
“We have now KD. We have now Chris Paul… It opens up spots for me.”
-Devin Booker on his dominant Sport 3 efficiency pic.twitter.com/RkC2nSMdli
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 21, 2023
Booker’s scoring exploits come as no shock, however his effort and engagement on the defensive finish have made him a deadly two-way risk on this sequence.
As famous by StatMuse, Booker will not be solely main the playoffs in scoring, however is second in shares (steals and blocks mixed).
Devin Booker this playoffs:
— 1st in factors per recreation
— 2nd in shares per recreation
Doing it on each ends of the ground. pic.twitter.com/Wyz0W6x2yQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 21, 2023
“It’s what he’s been doing this sequence,” Suns head coach Monty Williams instructed reporters postgame.
“I instructed him after Sport 1 he was thermostat for the workforce, and he set the temperature for 48 minutes.”
The Suns will look to proceed their profitable methods in Sport 4 on Saturday, April 22 in Los Angeles, with tip-off set for 3:30 p.m. ET.