5 takeaways after Devin Booker's 58-point eruption in Suns comeback thriller over Pelicans
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Maybe Devin Booker was just trying to put an exclamation point on Phoenix’s 118-114 comeback victory over New Orleans and punch the overjoyed sellout crowd of 17,071 to a higher floor with that 30-footer at the buzzer.
His energy level was dialed up way past 100 Saturday night at Footprint Center.
“I thought the competitive edge gave us a lot of juice,” Suns head coach Monty Williams said.
Maybe Booker wanted to score 60-plus for only the second time in his career.
He could’ve done that by making all his free throws.
“Ah man, don’t get me started on that,” said the career 86.9% free throw shooter after going 10-of-15 at the line. "I’m going to hear about that for a long time.”
"Don't get me started on that. I'm going to have to hear about that for a long time."
Devin Booker 10-of-15 FTs on 58-point night.
So who is he going to hear it from?
"My dad for sure. He's probably waiting in the hallway right now. He won't even smile. I'm serious." #Suns pic.twitter.com/mlFTOda7xU— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
Or maybe, just maybe Booker was trying to answer Zion Williamson’s 360 dunk at the end of the Pelicans’ 128-117 win over Phoenix a little more than a week ago in New Orleans that some Suns players like Cameron Payne took offense to and helped spark an on-court postgame dust up between the teams.
“Just playing to the end,” Booker said with a head nod.
Hmmm. OK. Fair enough. Felt like more than that, but fair enough.
What’s ever fairer to say is Booker and the Suns (18-12) finally responded to the Pelicans (18-11) by matching their energy and physicality just when it seemed as if they were going to get run off their home floor.
Here are five takeaways after Booker’s season-high 58-point eruption to set an arena record for most points in a single game. Phoenix continues its four-game homestand Tuesday against the Lakers (12-16).
'Unreal'
Booker had already scored at least 50 four previous times led by that career-high 70-piece in Boston back in March 2017, but the first three ended in defeat.
Then he dropped 51 on the Bulls in three quarters of a comfortable 132-113 home win last month, but Saturday's 58-point blast was way more impactful.
Against Chicago, Booker made it look easy in shooting 20-of-25 from the field.
The Bulls weren’t providing much resistance, either.
Somers: Devin Booker scores 58 and turns the mundane into magic
Saturday's eruption showed why Booker is a superstar in this league and should be firmly back in the MVP conversation. He put the Suns on his back in leading an impressive comeback.
Down 17 at the half, Phoenix fell behind by as many as 24 points in the third when Booker completely took over.
"Unreal."
Chris Paul on Devin Booker's 58-point night in #Suns win over #Pelicans.
"He's been that guy. He's just in that mode and he can do whatever the team needs to win. He's been doing it for years. I guess everybody just noticing now cause we're winning a little bit more." pic.twitter.com/RjsSmkXd3n— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
He scored 20 points in the third quarter as the Suns trailed by only five going into the fourth – and wasn’t even close to done.
Booker scored 25 straight points from the mid-point in the third to the mid-point in the fourth. His offensive skill set was on full display.
Post ups. Jumpers. Drives.
Knocking down 3s fading out of bounds.
Driving by Williamson and finishing as the rim.
Enough was enough
And Booker was doing it all with a major attitude to match the Pelicans.
Trash talking. Giving the too small sign after scoring over the pesky Jose Alvarado.
Bouncing his head off the padded back stanchion of the basket to celebrate a bucket.
Staring at Dyson Daniels after scoring off the glass and drawing a foul.
Oh, he had it all working on a night his team needed him to cook on all four burners.
The Pelicans earned Phoenix’s respect in last season’s playoffs. Then they took it in the two wins in New Orleans with much bravado.
The Suns had to answer.
They couldn’t treat this like it was just another December game.
"I told the coaches this morning that he was approaching something."
Monty Williams as Devin Booker went for a season-high 58 points in #Suns 118-114 comeback win Saturday night over #Pelicans to mark his 2nd 50-point game this season.
"He just had one of those Book nights." pic.twitter.com/TytbqOZFef— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
A loss would’ve not only given New Orleans the season series, but the head-to-head tiebreaker and three straight wins over them.
The Pelicans would’ve had major confidence going into a playoff matchup.
Booker knew all of that and responded with a vengeance. He put his foot down, had seen enough and let New Orleans know it can’t just walk into his house and do whatever.
More than half, but not alone
Now it wasn’t a one-man show.
Josh Okogie came up back-to-back offensive rebounds on one possession to prevent New Orleans from racing down with a chance to tie or take the lead with a little more than three minutes left. Fouled by Williamson after the second offensive board, Okogie made two free throws to give Phoenix a 111-107 edge with 3:20 left in the fourth.
"For me, I'm trying to win."
Josh Okogie on his back-to-back offensive rebounds with #Suns up two in fourth quarter of comeback win over #Pelicans.
Fouled by Zion Williamson after 2nd one, Okogie hit two FTs to give Phoenix an 111-107 lead with 3:20 left in game. pic.twitter.com/FqQYvfOZh3— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
Booker said Phoenix doesn’t win without Okogie, who also took on the challenge of guarding Williamson.
Paul hit 5-of-7 from deep with two huge ones coming in the fourth on his 18-point night. Mikal Bridges helped slow down CJ McCollum, who scored just three of his 27 points in the second half.
Bismack Biyombo filled in nicely for the injured Deandre Ayton (ankle) with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting He put the Suns up for good on a lob finish, 109-107, with 4:11 left in the fourth.
No one-man show, but Booker did score more than half of Phoenix's points.
The All-Star guard emphatically delivered when Phoenix was on its way to suffering an embarrassing loss at home to a team that was having too much fun at the expense of the Suns.
Catch-and-shoot
Chris Paul has had the ball in his hands for most of his 18-year career.
He’s ran the show outside of his time in Houston when James Harden was in full MVP mode, but the Suns went into this season wanting Paul to play more off the ball.
That’s out of his comfort zone, but Williams wants other guys like Bridges and Cam Johnson more comfortable making plays to prepare Phoenix for the postseason.
Plus, this will save Paul’s legs for when the games really, really count. Handling the ball takes more out of guys than one realizes.
And he is 37, you know.
Paul is now in a situation where the Suns are asking him to be ready to shoot 3s off ball movement when he’s made a living dissecting defenses with his passing and playmaking as the floor general.
"I just got to get used to catching and shooting."
Chris Paul as he went 5-of-7 from 3 in #Suns win over #Pelicans.
"I do it here and there, but 17 years, I've never really done it. So it's nice to play with somebody who gets double teamed. Most of my career, I was that guy." pic.twitter.com/EBuC56CjZc— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
That’s way out of his comfort zone – and he wasn’t making shots to start this season.
Paul only hit 9-of-33 from deep for a career-low 27.2% in his first 10 games.
Then he got hurt and missed 14 games with what the Suns called a sore right heel. Since returning, Paul is looking a little more comfortable in the catch-and-shoot world – and splashing 3.
Paul made 15 of his last 37 from deep for 40.5% in his six games back from injury.
Now he had a bad shooting night in there at Houston when going 2-of-10 on 3s, but Paul also went 6-of-9 in a loss last week at New Orleans last week.
Then on Saturday night, he passed up open looks, hesitated on others, but closed out his 5-of-7 night from distance with two mega 3s in the fourth.
The last one gave Phoenix a 114-109 lead with 1:02 left in the game.
Dagger. Game over.
Paul has been known to close games with his decision making.
The veteran point guard can still do the same thing, but just on catch-and-shoot 3s like he did Saturday night.
In their favor
Williams couldn’t help but laugh when talking about free throws.
Unfamiliarity can bring that out of a person.
Williams peeked at the stat sheet and saw Phoenix went to the line 22 more times than New Orleans.
The Suns finished 25-of-35 to the Pelicans going 10-of-13.
"We're not used to having this disparity in our favor."
Monty Williams as #Suns went 25-of-35 FTs to #Pelicans 10-of-13.
"It's hard for me to speak on it. I'm not used to being in this position, but I thought our guys did a much better job of moving their feet without fouling." pic.twitter.com/rY9tNtQwun— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 18, 2022
That’s a complete reversal from what took place in New Orleans.
The Pelicans shot 49-of-63 from the line in the two wins while the Suns went 22-of-30.
How did that happen?
The Suns defended better without fouling as they were only called for 13 PFs, but New Orleans, the team that lives in the paint, fell in love with the 3 – and for good reason.
The Pelicans were 13-of-25 on 3s going into the fourth quarter, but they only made 1-of-5 from distance in the fourth.
New Orleans is still a bad matchup for Phoenix.
The Suns can’t stop Williamson. Okogie played him tough, but Williamson still got 30 on 12-of-15 shooting.
The Pelicans have long, athletic guys who can score and defend, Alvarado can create havoc and Willie Green is one of the league's top coaches already.
This is all without Brandon Ingram, who remains out with a toe injury.
With Ingram, the Pelicans are an even bigger problem for Phoenix, but here’s their problem.
They're young. Yes, McCollum is a veteran. So is Jonas Valanciunas, but the rest of their key guys are young and haven’t been enough situations together to close games, particularly on the road.
That’s the one edge Phoenix has on them.
The Suns have had their share of struggles in that area this season, but they’ve been in tight situations more than the Pelicans.
That paid off Saturday night.
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 5 takeaways after Booker's 58-point eruption in Suns comeback thriller