Suns’ Booker nets second straight 50-point sport vs. Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — As Devin Booker hit his sixth 3-pointer of the evening to eclipse the 50-point plateau, he turned and seemed up about 15 rows behind the Phoenix Suns’ bench, the place his father and grandfather had been sitting.

Booker scored a season-high 52 factors in 37 minutes — his second straight 50-point sport in opposition to New Orleans — and the Phoenix Suns beat the Pelicans 123-109 on Friday evening for his or her fourth straight victory.

“I obtained 50 of us on the market and I am about to go see them,” stated Booker, who performed in highschool on the Mississippi coast. “That is the place my primary motivation comes, from all my household that is right here. They drive over each time I play right here and I wish to placed on a present for them.”

The final time Booker was within the Suns’ lineup in opposition to New Orleans he scored 58 factors in a victory in Phoenix on Dec. 17, 2022. On Friday, he was 18 of 30 from the sphere, 6 of 11 on 3s and made 10 free throws with out a miss.

Booker grew to become the sixth participant to report consecutive 50-point video games in opposition to a single opponent, becoming a member of James Harden, Adrian Dantley, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain did it 38 completely different occasions.

Booker reached 50 factors for the sixth time in his profession. He had a career-high 70 at Boston on March 24, 2017. All different gamers in Suns historical past have six 50-point video games mixed.

“The man’s simply obtained an unimaginable killer intuition,” Suns coach Frank Vogel stated. “He had that look in his eyes tonight.

“It was an important workforce win, however E-book was spectacular. He was in a position to torch these guys, however when the double-teams got here, he shared it.”

Kevin Durant added 26 factors and Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 15 rebounds for Phoenix. The Suns shot 49.5% (46 of 93) and led by 30 factors within the second half.

Zion Williamson scored 24 factors for the Pelicans, who did not shoot effectively sufficient to maintain up with Booker & Co. New Orleans missed 32 of 42 3-point pictures — two nights after making a franchise-record 25 from deep in a blowout victory over Charlotte.

“They form of knocked us on our heels early,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated. “As soon as they did, it was simply exhausting for us to get again right into a rhythm.”

Greater than his workforce’s off evening capturing from the skin, Inexperienced was bothered by his starters’ defensive effort.

“That is the place their largest struggles are. We have now talked about it and had trustworthy discussions,” Inexperienced stated. “They’ll rating, however we have got to protect.”

The world was packed to the highest row of the higher deck for what seemed to be a matchup between a pair of ascending groups within the Western Convention.

Revved up from the opening tip, the gang exploded when Ingram hit a 15-foot pull-up within the opening minute for the sport’s first factors. The was the biggest Pelicans lead, and it was short-lived.

Booker responded with a 3 and went on to hit 9 of his first 11 pictures on a mixture of pull-ups, turnarounds, fades, floaters and three 3s to succeed in 25 factors earlier than the primary quarter ended.

“When he begins off aggressive, seeking to rating, that simply opens the ground up for everyone,” Durant stated. “I anticipate this from him once we go on the market — I am not saying 50 factors — however that aggressiveness, the shot-making.”

The Pelicans, by sharp distinction, missed 17 of their first 19 3-point makes an attempt.

Phoenix led by 23 within the second quarter earlier than the Pelicans managed to trim their deficit to 17 by halftime at 69-52, due to a 7-0 run that featured Trey Murphy III’s 3 and Williamson’s alley-oop dunk.

However Booker went about squelching any momentum the Pelicans hoped to have gained within the second half. He scored 20 factors within the third quarter, and the Suns led 100-80 heading into the ultimate interval.

Info from The Related Press and ESPN Stats & Info was used on this report.