NEW ORLEANS – Devin Booker scored 52 factors, the fifth-highest scoring sport of his profession, to energy the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night time, bringing them inside a sport of the Pelicans for the No. 6 playoff spot within the Western Convention.
Rebounding from a 128-103 loss to Oklahoma Metropolis on Friday night time, the Suns (44-31) inched nearer to New Orleans (45-30). The groups play once more in Phoenix on Sunday.
Booker grew to become the primary NBA participant since Wilt Chamberlain to attain no less than 50 factors in three consecutive video games in opposition to the identical opponent.
Along with his 52-point outburst in Phoenix’s 123-109 victory over New Orleans within the Smoothie King Middle on Jan. 19, Booker scored 58 factors in opposition to New Orleans in a 118-114 residence win over the Pelicans on Dec. 12, 2022.
“It means an entire lot,” mentioned Booker, a local of Moss Level, Mississippi, situated 110 miles from New Orleans, who had 40 kinfolk and pals within the stands. “My household was in attendance for 2 of them. Any time you get named for one thing Wilt did – it’s occurred only a few instances in my profession – you realize you probably did one thing particular.”
Suns coach Frank Vogel mentioned he was in awe watching Booker’s second 52-point sport in opposition to the Pelicans this yr.
“There’s one thing about enjoying on this constructing in opposition to this opponent,” Vogel mentioned. “(He) simply actually has a consolation zone right here. To go for 50 three straight instances in opposition to a single opponent … simply reveals what sort of particular participant he’s. 3 times in a row is simply unimaginable.”
Kevin Durant scored 20 factors and Jusuf Nurkic added 19 factors and 19 rebounds for the Suns, who led by as many as 25 factors within the third quarter.
Durant mentioned it was apparent Booker had it going within the first quarter, and the Suns made a concerted effort to get him the ball and display more durable to create extra open house.
“It was like deja vu,” Durant mentioned. “Because it was taking place, I couldn’t consider he was doing it once more.”
Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned there was no excuse for permitting Booker to go off, particularly since they knew his historical past of burying the Pels.
“He hit some pictures that we gave him, and he additionally hit some robust pictures,” Inexperienced mentioned. “We’ve to do higher. I imply, there’s no excuse to get 50, placed on you twice (in a season). Fairly frankly, we had been tender guarding him. We simply had a tender mentality when it got here to being bodily with him, and he’s an ideal participant, and you may’t enable him to be comfy.”
Booker’s first 24 factors got here on simply 9 pictures from the sector within the first quarter – he was 8-of-9 from behind the arc.
“He got here out with numerous tempo and vitality,” Pelicans ahead Trey Murphy III mentioned of Booker. “He hit some robust pictures, however I feel we contributed to it just a little as nicely.”
In Phoenix’s 123-109 highway victory over New Orleans on Jan. 19, Booker scored 25 factors within the first quarter. His 24-point outburst within the first quarter Monday night time gave him 76 factors in his earlier 5 quarters in opposition to the Pelicans.
The Suns constructed a wall round Zion Williamson on protection, and the Pelicans’ main scorer didn’t take his first shot till late within the first quarter. Williamson completed with 30 factors and 5 assists. Trey Murphy III added 21 factors for New Orleans.
Booker has eight 50-plus scoring video games in his profession.
Up subsequent
Suns: Host Cleveland on Wednesday night time.
Pelicans: Host Orlando on Wednesday night time.