Suns Continue to Discover How Special Devin Booker Truly Is

Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker continues to impress teammates and coaches.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs, but it sure wasn't easy. 

Despite handling the Los Angeles Clippers in 4-1 fashion, the Suns were forced to play at their best through each of their fives games against LA before moving on, which was perfectly encapsulated in Game 5's 136-130 win.

The Suns used a 50-point third quarter to build what was once a 20 point lead before eventually finding their advantage cut to two points with under three minutes left. 

Yet Phoenix got the job done, winning their fourth consecutive game to put the Clippers to bed on the heels of another superstar performance from Devin Booker. 

Booker finished the night with 47 points, which tied a career playoff high while also marking his sixth 40-point postseason performance, establishing a new Suns franchise record while surpassing Charles Barkley. 

“He was doing what Book does. There were times where he was taking what the defense gave him and then there were times where he just went and it did not matter," said Monty Williams following the game. 

According to ESPN Stats and Info, Booker became the first player in NBA history to score at least 45 points and reach 10 assists in a series-clinching win. 

"When he’s going like that, we’re not calling any plays. It’s all about concepts and looking at the environments and create space for him and the guys on the floor, whether it’s DA (Deandre Ayton) rolling or Kevin (Durant) in the corner, it allows for him to have more space but that’s just Book. He would tell you that he’s trained and waited for moments like that and I’m just glad to have him on my side.”

Booker (who also poured in eight rebounds, ten assists and two steals) has taken plenty advantage of the spacing afforded to him with Kevin Durant's presence on the floor. 

Through the series, both Durant and Booker took turns establishing their fingerprints on the game. When Booker outscored the Clippers 25-24 in the third quarter, Durant called it a "spiritual" experience.

“Yeah, it was spiritual. I don’t scream too much in the games no more as I got older, but when he hit that three at the top of the key, I felt the energy," Durant said after the game. "I know everyone in our crowd felt it. We feed off his aggression – not just on the team – Suns fans watching on TV, Suns fans in the arena. His impact and his presence just means a lot to us, that was incredible to see and be a part of.”

Durant - who has been around some of the best to ever do it - says playing with Booker has been special.

“You are playing with special players; they bring the best out of you. Playing with Steph (Stephen Curry), you watch him every day, you watch his work ethic, you admire his attention to detail and take some stuff from that," Durant said.

"See somebody like Book (Devin Booker) and see his journey, see his work ethic, his love for the game, you try to pull some stuff from that too. It is always iron sharpening iron. Getting an opportunity to play with some of the best players of all-time. Something that will only make my game better and only make my story better to be honest. Sky's the limit; we are enjoying this moment. Don’t want to take it for granted.”

Booker wraps up his first-round series with 37.2 points (first in the NBA), five rebounds, 6.4 assists, one block and 2.6 steals per game (also first in the NBA). 

Devin Booker this playoffs:

37.2 PPG (1st in NBA)
5.0 RPG
6.4 APG
2.6 SPG
60/47/86%

Joins Russ and MJ as the only players to average 35/5/5/2 in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/OgkazFtBWW

— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 26, 2023