In a span of about 15 seconds of game clock, Devin Booker got free for a two-handed dunk, pulled down a defensive rebound, flexed as he made his way to the opposite free-throw line and calmly sank the two shots to seal the Phoenix Suns’ first win of the Western Conference Finals.
It was a more-than-fitting end to arguably the best performance of Booker’s career. The 24-year-old’s first-career triple double — 40 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists — propelled the Suns to a 120-114 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Suns Arena to take a 1-0 series lead.
Booker clinched the statistical benchmark in highlight fashion, when he found Mikal Bridges for an alley-oop slam in transition for his 10th assist to give Phoenix a 113-104 lead with 2:35 to play. His sequence in the game’s final minute squashed an 8-0 Clippers burst to cut the Suns’ lead to 116-114 with 22 seconds to play. He also scored 16 consecutive points in the third quarter while going toe-to-toe with Clippers star Paul George, who finished with 34 points.
And the Suns needed it all from Booker while playing without All-Star point guard Chris Paul, who missed the game while in health and safety protocols. Perhaps Booker’s best nod to the future Hall of Famer: He only committed two turnovers while playing more point guard than normal.
It was the latest in a line of spectacular outings during Booker’s first playoff run. He is averaging 29 points on 49.1 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists over the Suns’ 11 games. He has eclipsed 30 points in five of those contests.
Phoenix has now won eight consecutive playoff games dating back to Game 4 of the first-round series against the Lakers to extend a franchise record.
All five Suns starters finished in double figures, including 20 points and nine rebounds from Deandre Ayton, 11 points and nine assists from Cameron Payne while starting in place of Paul and 12 points and four rebounds from Cam Johnson off the bench.
Game 2 of the series is Tuesday night at Phoenix Suns Arena.