Devin Booker made a difficult turnaround jumper with Paul George in his face as time expired, capping a 35-point performance and giving the Phoenix Suns a 117-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I’m happy for him, but he’d be the first one to tell you we’re not done,” Phoenix coach Monty Williams said of Booker.
The Suns improved to 3-0 in the bubble as they chase a playoff spot.
DIFFICULTY: Trapped above the 3-point line, Booker faked a pass and blew past George, then jump-stopped in his sweet spot from about 15 feet out. As Kawhi Leonard closed in, Booker pivoted twice and a shot a fadeaway jumper over George’s outstretched arms that swished through the rim as time expired. Nothing easy about that.
GAME SITUATION: Leonard had tied the game with two free throws with 31.3 seconds to go. Ricky Rubio missed a shot after that and Ivica Zubac got the rebound, but he threw a bad pass that Mikal Bridges poked away to give the Suns another chance with 10 seconds remaining. The Suns swung the ball out to Booker with about 8 seconds to play.
CELEBRATION: Booker crashed to the court as his teammates surrounded him to celebrate the victory. “I’m not a big celebration guy,” Booker said after the game. “But they caught me on the ground so I couldn’t get away from them.”
GRADE: On the day he became the sixth-youngest player in NBA history to reach 7,500 career points, Booker hits the most clutch shot of his career and keeps the Suns in the playoff chase. Considering the opponent, difficulty of the shot and what this win meant to the Suns, Booker earns the highest grade: 5 Horrys.
