Devin Booker sets scoring mark as Suns edge Thunder
Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Footprint Center on December 27, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 114-113. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP
Devin Booker matched his season high of 38 points while reaching a milestone and also had seven rebounds and five assists to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 115-97 victory over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
JaVale McGee contributed 16 points and eight rebounds and Cameron Payne added 16 points and seven assists for Phoenix, which snapped a two-game slide.
Cameron Johnson had 12 points, Jalen Smith collected 11 points and 14 rebounds and Chris Paul added 10 points for the Suns.
In the first quarter, Booker (25 years, 60 days) became the seventh youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points. He finished the game with 10,034.
Devin Booker (@DevinBook) erupted for 38 points in the @Suns win, marking his 3rd game with 30+ in his last 4 games! #ValleyProud pic.twitter.com/Vhg6Te4r5N
— NBA (@NBA) December 30, 2021
Booker has scored 68 points in less than a week against the Thunder. He scored 30 when Phoenix registered a 113-101 home win over Oklahoma City last Thursday.
Ty Jerome established career bests of 24 points and eight rebounds for Oklahoma City, which dropped its second straight contest. Aaron Wiggins added 22 points and eight boards for Oklahoma City, which played without leading scorer Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) and five others who were in COVID-19 protocols.
Both head coaches missed the game due to COVID-19 protocols — Monty Williams of Phoenix and Mark Daigneault of the Thunder. Assistant Kevin Young coached the Suns for the second straight contest while assistant Mike Wilks ran the Thunder for the second consecutive game.
The Suns were without four players due to COVID-19 protocols, including Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder.
Phoenix shot 46.1 percent from the field, including 12 of 34 from 3-point range.
Mike Muscala scored 13 points, Paul Watson added 11 and Isaiah Roby scored 10 for the Thunder, who made 39.6 percent of their shots and were 7 of 35 from behind the arc.
Oklahoma City was within 98-93 after a 3-pointer by Wiggins with 6:43 left before Phoenix rattled off 10 straight points.
Booker scored six points during the run as the Suns increased their advantage to 15 with three minutes remaining and cruised to the finish.
Booker scored 23 points in the first half as the Suns led 60-52 at the break.
The Thunder rallied to lead 75-72 after Wiggins’ basket with 4:05 left in the third quarter.
The stanza ended with McGee knocking a 23-footer through the hoop prior to the buzzer to give the Suns an 85-81 edge.
