Devin Booker put together a career performance to lead the Suns to a win in game one. Booker had a 40-point triple-double, and the Suns beat the Clippers 120-114. It’s Booker’s first career triple-double, and it comes in game one of the Western Conference Finals.
Phoenix was going to need Booker to be great for them to take game one. The team is without Chris Paul, as he remains in the NBA’s Healthy and Safety Protocols.
Booker put up 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Booker scored 29 of those points in the second half. In addition, he scored or assisted on 22 of the Suns’ 45 made field goals.
Booker did it all in game one, but he wasn’t alone. Numerous players stepped up in Paul’s absence. However, it was Booker who stole the show.
Deandre Ayton scored 20 points, and Mikal Bridges added 14. Cameron Johnson and Torey Craig also provided key minutes off the bench.
Booker is averaging 29 points per game this postseason. He waited six seasons to taste playoff action, and the 24-year-old is showing he’s not afraid of the game’s biggest stage.
There’s no timetable for when Paul is going to return to the team. If he continues to be out, Booker will need to continue this play if the Suns want to reach the NBA finals.
Phoenix is in the playoffs after not making them since 2010. The team hasn’t made the finals since 1992 when they lost in six games to the Chicago Bulls.
The Clippers are also without one of their stars as Kawhi Leonard is nursing an ACL injury. However, the game must go on, and Booker and the Suns will look to go up two games on Tuesday night.
