Devin Booker’s historic outing leads Suns to first round victory

NBA star Devin Booker has delivered a performance for the ages, achieving something no player in NBA history has ever done before.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers in game five of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 25, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Devin Booker pulled out everything in his arsenal as he helped lead the Phoenix Suns over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

The historic outing ends the first round series with the Suns claiming the 4-1 victory and advancing into the second round of the playoffs.

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Booker was at his best in the series decider as he pommeled the Clippers’ defence, finishing with 47 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists.

Those figures make him the first player in NBA history to record 45 plus points and 10 or more assists in a deciding playoff game.

It wasn’t just a one-off either as Booker torched the Clippers all series long, scoring at will and setting his teammates up consistently throughout the five games.

At the end of the five games, Booker tallied 186 and registered 75 points off of his assists. It means he generated just under 43 per cent of the Suns total points in the series.

DEVIN. BOOKER.

47 PTS
8 REB
10 AST
70% FG

Suns win Game 5 and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals 🔥#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/NqMHE1pSEX

— NBA (@NBA) April 26, 2023

Devin Booker in the first round: 37.2 pts (60.2 / 46.7 / 85.7 shooting splits) 5.0 rebs, 6.4 asts, 2.6 stls, 1.0 blks

Game 1: 26 pts, 4 stls, 3 blks

2: 38 pts, 9 asts

3: 45 pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls, 2 blks

4: 30 pts, 9 rebs, 7 asts, 3 stls

5: 47 pts, 8 rebs, 10 asts, 2 stls

— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) April 26, 2023

The Clippers went into the contest once again without superstar duo Paul George and Kawhi Leonard and fought valiantly to almost keep the series alive.

They held a 10-point lead early in the second half before Booker unleashed, scoring 25 of the Suns 50 points in the quarter.

The Clippers managed to close to within two points with just under two minutes remaining before Kevin Durant settled Phoenix with a layup and two free throws to make the game safe.

“Those guys don’t stop fighting,” Booker said of the Clippers afterwards. “That’s been the story of the whole series. Even though they were down men, we knew they were going to bring it.”

Booker was unstoppable. Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP

The win sets up a second round showdown with the top-seeded Denver Nuggets who handled their business in closing out the Minnesota Timberwolves in game 5 on Wednesday.

The Nuggets were made to work hard for their win by a Timberwolves team who jumped out to an early 15-point lead in the first quarter before gradually being reeled in.

Jamal Murray led the Nuggets scorers with 35 points while reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic bagged his second triple-double of the series with 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists.

Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards missed a three-point attempt on the buzzer that would have forced overtime as the Timberwolves’ season came to an end.

Edwards finished with 29 points while Karl-Anthony Towns added 26.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently lead the Memphis Grizzlies 3-1 while the Sacrament Kings and Golden State Warriors are locked at 2-2 in their first round series.

Edwards gave the Nuggets all they could handle. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

In the Eastern Conference the Miami Heat have the number one seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the rope, leading 3-1 while the New York Knicks are one win away from advancing with a 3-1 lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On the other side of the bracket the Philadelphia 76ers are awaiting the winner of the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks matchup.

Trae Young nailed a last-gasp three-pointer as the Hawks stunned the Celtics 119-117 to keep the series alive.

A nerve-jangling game in Boston was settled when Young drained a 29-footer with 1.8 seconds remaining to silence the Celtics’ TD Garden crowd and set up a game six in Atlanta on Thursday.

Young, who finished with 38 points, 13 assists and four rebounds, said the Hawks had been determined to extend the series following the suspension of key guard Dejounte Murray.

Murray was suspended for one game after a clash with a referee after game four on Sunday.

“We were missing a big piece of ours and we want him to play game six, so we want to go back home and have him with us,” Young said of Murray.

“I didn’t feel there was any pressure on me. Obviously we were without (Murray) but we all had to step our game up another level — not just me, we all did tonight. Total team win.”

– with AFP

Originally published as Devin Booker’s historic outing leads Suns to first round victory