Devin Booker leads Suns to Game 5 win; Phoenix to play Denver in second round

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Final stats for Suns-Clippers series
Devin Booker: 37.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.4 APG, 2.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.0 TPG, 60.2 FG%, 46.7 3P%, 85.7 FT%
Kevin Durant: 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.2 TPG, 51.8 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 95.6 FT%
Damn. – 2:37 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
📰 @TheAthletic with @DougHaller
Suns 610, Clippers 578 in 5 games.
Suns shot 51.5% FGs, Clippers 46%.
Suns made 19 more FGs overall, 7 more FTs, 9 fewer TOs.
Clippers made 13 more 3s, had 6 more off. rebounds.
Devin Booker: 27 more FGs than KD.
theathletic.com/4452597/2023/0… – 2:04 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“I think it’s a good lesson for us.”
Devin Booker on #Suns nearly blowing a 20-point lead in 4th quarter of Game 5 closeout win over #Clippers. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/kTxN8BmTH1 – 2:00 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“It was spiritual.”
Kevin Durant on Devin Booker’s 25-point 3rd quarter in #Suns Game 5 win over #ClipperNation to close out series. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/AQmQWCqcvF – 1:46 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Did Chris Paul know that Devin Booker (25) had outscored the Clippers (24) by himself in that 3rd quarter?
“Well it damn sure looked like it.” – 1:38 AM

Chris Sheridan @sheridanhoops
Interesting #NBA Finals MVP market after tonight’s games. Devin Booker of #Suns is +1100 eighth choice at FanDuel. Giannis Antetokounmpo of #Bucks is the +650 second choice behind Jayson Tatum (+340) of #Celtics. Jimmy Butler of #Heat is +7000. Trae Young of #Hawks is +50000. – 1:32 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker on how the growing pains early in his career shaped his mentality now: “I don’t take any win for granted. I don’t take any chance to do something special for granted….but I wouldn’t change my journey for anybody else’s.” – 1:28 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker ties playoff career high with 47 as Suns advance to face Nuggets in semifinals #Suns #Clippers #NBAPlayoffs azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 1:27 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker on closing out the series in Game 5: “We stressed in the locker room, we didn’t want to go back to LA unless it’s for the Western Conference Finals.” – 1:26 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant postgame. #Suns #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/DKL1AXJGqO – 1:25 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Kevin Durant on Devin Booker’s high-scoring night: “It was spiritual…we feed off his aggression.” – 1:23 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant postgame. #Suns #Clippers pic.twitter.com/xTwx9hGbQa – 1:22 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“It damn near felt like it.” Chris Paul on Devin Booker when asked about him outscoring the #Clippers by himself, 25-24, in the third quarter. #Suns – 1:20 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Kevin Durant described Devin Booker’s performance tonight as “spiritual.” – 1:16 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Chris Paul on if he realized Devin Booker outscored the Clippers by himself in the 3rd
“Well it damn sure looked like it.” – 1:13 AM

Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Nikola Jokić just said that the Suns are arguably the championship’s favorites right now. Shared a lot of praise on their team and how well coached they are.
Also said that Booker and KD are playing like top players in the world right now. – 1:05 AM

Mark Haynes @markhaynesnba
Devin Booker was on another level tonight. – 12:59 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
“He was doing what Book does.”
Monty Williams credited Devin Booker with getting his offense in the flow of things and his work in the pick-and-roll.
“He would tell you he’s trained and waited for moments like that.” – 12:57 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker in the 1st round:
37.2 PPG
6.4 APG
5.0 RPG
2.6 SPG
1.0 BPG
60.2 FG%
46.7 3P% – 12:49 AM

Austin Kent @AustinKent
Still remember the last time Devin Booker dropped 47-points in a first-round clinching victory.
🔗 : https://t.co/ADU0KJZ4Ni pic.twitter.com/29gIuomLX2 – 12:47 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Chuck seeing Booker break his franchise records: pic.twitter.com/BgGZJTfuoc – 12:45 AM

Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Devin Booker is the best player of the night AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/GP947YpW5C – 12:44 AM

Dave Early @DavidEarly
Powell fouls Durant, refs a fraction late so KD hooks to help the officials see it. Foul on Powell.
(Just book marking for myself for when Harden does this in a huge spot and it’s called offensive foul.) pic.twitter.com/L6jBiJBOyg – 12:42 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Devin Booker tonight:
47 PTS
8 REB
10 AST
2 STL
19-27 FG
4-7 3P
Leading the playoffs in points. pic.twitter.com/tZn6PVjwEf – 12:39 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Final: PHX 136, LAC 130
Booker: 47 Pts, 10 Ast, 8 Reb, 19-27 FG
Durant: 31 Pts, 6 Reb, 10-19 FG
Ayton: 21 Pts, 11 Reb, 9-18 FG
Powell: 27 Pts, 8-17 FG
Suns win their first-round series 3-1 and will play the 1-seeded Denver Nuggets in Game 1 on Saturday – 12:39 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Westbrook blows a layup that would have tied it and Booker sinks a middy. Insane last couple of minutes and it is still not over yet somehow. – 12:32 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Russell Westbrook misses a layup that would’ve tied the game. Book gets to the midrange. Huge swing – 12:32 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
3-point game. Clippers are trapping Devin Booker and forcing Josh Okogie to shoot. Booker gets to the FT line as Landry Shamet checks in for Okogie – 12:29 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker becomes the eighth player in NBA postseason history with multiple games of 40+ points and 10+ assists, per @Stathead.
LeBron James leads the way with 5. Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic have 3. Russell Westbrook has two. – 12:27 AM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
Already brushed my teeth put on PJs and set aside a good book don’t be sending this thing to overtime now. – 12:27 AM

NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Book passes Charles Barkley for the most 40-point games in Suns playoff history pic.twitter.com/mn2PgnaF2i – 12:24 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers had cut the Phoenix lead to 10, but Booker hit a 3 and found Ayton for a dunk in between Plumlee missing an alley-oop.
Phoenix up 128-113 with 5:36 left. Clippers last gasp with only one timeout remaining. – 12:22 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Gorgeous find from Josh Okogie for a Devin Booker 3, then Book hits a rolling DA for a dunk. Book is up to 44 points, 10 assists and 6 boards – 12:20 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Double-double for Devin Booker. Ten assists. – 12:20 AM

Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 38 points in the 3rd quarter.
That is the most combined points in any quarter by a duo over the last 25 postseasons.
Booker outscored the Clippers by himself in the quarter (25-24). – 12:18 AM

Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Is anyone playing better than Devin Booker in the playoffs right now? He is hooping! – 12:16 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
DEVIN BOOKER ALVARADO HEAT CHECK. He went for it. The cameras caught it right. – 12:16 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Devin Booker made 17/19 FGs in the last two 3rd quarters in this building. – 12:13 AM

The Vertical @Balldontlie
LA Clippers vs. Devin Booker in the 3rd quarter:
🏀 Clippers: 5-for-20 FG, 24 PTS
🏀 Booker: 10-for-11 FG, 25 PTS pic.twitter.com/QoQwqd2kWH – 12:10 AM

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Devin Booker is on another level right now. – 12:08 AM

Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Welp… That changed quickly. Booker going for 50+ pic.twitter.com/XW4MCDFXRO – 12:05 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker with the third 25-point quarter in the postseason since 1997, per @Stathead.
Damian Lillard and Allen Iverson had the other two. – 12:05 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.
Scored 25 in the 3rd quarter, has 41 for the game.
Outscored #Clippers in the third by himself, 25-24.
#Suns up 111-94 going into the fourth. pic.twitter.com/jjBCxO6fEX – 12:03 AM

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
D-Book and KD just put on a Offensive Clinic!!! God Bless America – 12:03 AM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker through three quarters has 41-6-8 on 17-for-23 shooting. He scored 25 in the quarter.
Suns ended the third quarter on a 25-8 run. – 12:02 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 3Q: PHX 111, LAC 94
Booker: 41 Pts, 8 Ast, 6 Reb, 17-23 FG
Durant: 25 Pts, 6 Reb, 8-17 FG
Ayton: 18 Pts, 10 Reb, 8-16 FG
Zubac: 16 Pts, 10 Reb, 5-6 FG
Suns outscored Clippers 50-24 in 3Q, with 25 coming from Book. 18-0 run at one point – 12:02 AM

Alvaro Martin @AlvaroNBAMartin
El que me diga que no cree en la teoría de la Mano Ardiente que por favor vea a Devin Booker en este cuarto.
#EstamosEnRitmo pic.twitter.com/7gPglgtwut – 12:01 AM

John Hollinger @johnhollinger
For those who haven’t been focusing on Clips-Suns, Devin Booker is having an absurdly good playoffs at both ends. – 12:01 AM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker has the most 40-point games in Suns playoff history – 12:01 AM

Janis Carr @janiscarr
Booker with 40 pts and there’s still another whole quarter to go. Think about it. – 12:01 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Shamet 3 off Booker to Durant swing to him.
#Suns up 17. – 11:59 PM

Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Damn, D. Book. – 11:58 PM

Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Damn Book, calm down lol – 11:58 PM

Jacob Evans @JacobEvans_1
Book going crazy!!!! – 11:57 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker to the rim for jam. Smiling on his way back down the floor. #Suns up 104-86 as Okogie hits FTs with 1:22 left. – 11:57 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
BOOK RIGHT DOWN MAIN STREET
Suns are up 41-16 in the 3rd quarter, with Devin Booker scoring 23 by himself – 11:56 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker points to the bench as he finds Durant for corner 3. #Suns up 14. – 11:56 PM

Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
What a one-handed pass by Booker to find Durant in the corner. 14-point Suns lead. A third quarter from hell for the Clippers. – 11:56 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker continues to cook. Has 21 in the quarter, 37 for the game. #Suns up 11. – 11:55 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Just an unreal performance from Devin Booker and there’s still 15 minutes left in the game – 11:54 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most 30-point playoff games by a Suns player:
17 — Devin Booker
16 — Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/MbF7e63tDo – 11:50 PM

Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
Stop playin w book – 11:48 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker 3 again. #Suns up 8. Timeout #Clippers.
Crowd going bananas. Phoenix up 94-86 with 3:44 left in 3rd. – 11:48 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
There has not been a single player better in the first round of these playoffs than Devin Booker – 11:48 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker avalanche. Suns up 8. No one better right now. – 11:47 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker got Westbrook on a ball fake, then launched a 3 that bounced around and in. #Suns up five. – 11:47 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker with another 30-point playoff game. The man is on another level right now – 11:47 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Booker toooough banked-in 2. Durant pull-up 3. One-point game. Quite a cheat code having those two. – 11:39 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Oh hey, the building is awake. Booker bucket and KD 3 in transition has the Suns back within 1. 3Q Suns back? – 11:39 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker keeping #Suns in it. Has 21. Down 5. – 11:27 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: LAC 70, PHX 61
Ayton: 18 Pts, 4 Reb, 8-11 FG
Booker: 16 Pts, 6 Ast, 7-12 FG
Durant: 12 Pts, 4 Reb, 4-11 FG
Powell: 16 Pts, 5-9 FG
Clippers up 18-7 in 3PAs and 21-5 in second chance points – 11:07 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker to Durant for 3. #Suns down two as Booker gets called for technical foul. pic.twitter.com/9b7OAgIqzK – 11:01 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Devin Booker technical foul, as if this crowd wasn’t pissed enough about the officiating… – 11:01 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker gets hit with a tech for barking at the official. Thought he got hit on the arm on that last bucket off the window – 11:01 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Good contest by Ayton on Westbrook and then a crazy catch on that Booker pass. Very good first half for him. – 10:54 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns come out of timeout and get a 24-second violation.
Damion Lee in for Booker.
On that last defensive possession, Paul motioned to Ayton as Batum got the tip-in.
#Clippers up five as they’re consistently getting good looks. Durant set to check in with 8:14 left in half. – 10:46 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
No one guarded Devin Booker for like 15 seconds of that ATO and the Suns got 24’ed anyway – 10:45 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker gets his first rest 2 and a half minutes into the 2Q. Damion Lee checks in for him – 10:45 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker to Ayton, who kept ball high on catch and finish.
#Suns up one. – 10:39 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
This has become a rotation lineup.
Shamet
Booker
Okogie
Durant
Biyombo
Thoughts?
#Suns 32 #Clippers 30 end of 1st. #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rXQMLkiTgm – 10:38 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Booker starting the second quarter again. – 10:37 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
For the first time in this series, the Clippers trail after the 1st quarter.
Phoenix leads 32-30 behind 59.1% FGs. Devin Booker has 10 points on 4/8 FGs, 2/2 FTs.
Norman Powell has game-high 11. Both had full shift first quarters. – 10:36 PM

Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
First quarter: Suns 32, Clippers 30
Norm Powell has 11 points. Devin Booker has 10. Teams are even in free-throw attempts, at five each, and turnovers, with three. – 10:35 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: PHX 32, LAC 30
Booker: 10 Pts, 3 Ast, 4-8 FG
Ayton: 9 Pts, 2 Reb, 4-6 FG
Okogie: 5 Pts, 2-2 FG
Powell: 11 Pts, 4-8 FG
No Cam Payne so far – 10:34 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker and Durant point at each other as Booker found Biyombo for dunk.
Okogie transition dunk. #Suns up three. – 10:26 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Doubled Durant.
He found Okogie, who found Booker open in corner
Baseline dribble. Bucket.
#Suns up 18-17 as Powell answers. – 10:19 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Smart audible from Devin Booker. Sees Gordon on Ayton, so sends DA’s screen away and calls Okogie up, who has Zubac on him. Book hits Okogie on the slip immediately, Okogie feeds it to DA for an easy bucket. High-IQ stuff – 10:19 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker 1st quarter: 8 points, 3-of-3 FGs.
#Suns up 12-9 as Durant scores with transition dunk.
Timeout #Clippers with 7:41 left in 1st quarter. – 10:16 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
First turnover of the game doesn’t occur until 7:41 left in opening quarter. But it was Westbrook losing control of dribble, saving it to a waiting Booker, and that’s how Durant gets his first bucket.
Tyronn Lue trying to nip it in the bud, calls timeout with Phoenix up 12-9. – 10:14 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Devin Booker off to a good start in cementing his spot as the best player of the first round. – 10:13 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker has 8 of the Suns’ first 12 points on 3-of-3 shooting and just assisted Kevin Durant on a monster dunk in transition to get the crowd fired up. Suns up 12-9 early – 10:12 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Devin Booker drives continue to be a thing. He’s been great about attacking the rim all series – 10:07 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Booker surveyed the #Clippers defense for nearly 20 seconds.
The hell with this.
Went to rim. Tie game. 2-2. #Suns – 10:07 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
STARTERS 4/25
LAC
Eric Gordon
Marcus Morris Sr.
Ivica Zubac
Norman Powell
Russell Westbrook
PHX
Torrey Craig
Kevin Durant
Deandre Ayton
Devin Booker
Chris Paul – 9:46 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers will start Russell Westbrook, Norman Powell, Eric Gordon, Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac in Game 5
Phoenix will start Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Torrey Craig, Kevin Durant, Deandre Ayton – 9:33 PM

Darren Wolfson @DWolfsonKSTP
I’ll feature former Maple Grove HS and Northwestern RB Evan Hull at 6:50p on @KSTP. He’ll get drafted this weekend. Visited the #Packers and #Vikings, his former position coach is now with #Broncos, so they have the book too. Great kid. Didn’t play varsity until 11th grade. pic.twitter.com/kHnM696Du5 – 6:17 PM

Chiney Ogwumike @chiney
Devin Booker is shooting 55% from the field and 40% from 3 in the playoffs, with 83 of his 91 shots CONTESTED. But it doesn’t stop there… pic.twitter.com/SHIYWAT8G4 – 4:42 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“You’re going to have to fine me.”
D’Angelo Russell tried to promote Coco5 sports drink, but #Lakers removed bottle.
@drinkCOCO5 majority owner and ambassador, Devin Booker, loved it.
“It gave it more light than it would’ve if it just sat there.” #Suns tinyurl.com/4ssfskun pic.twitter.com/RLOrg3mWbk – 1:27 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Recent #Suns stories:
Kevin Durant ’48 every game’ tinyurl.com/ehzpcrmc
Devin Booker all smiles over D’Angelo Russell’s @drinkCOCO5 presser tinyurl.com/4ssfskun
‘Win at all costs’ going into Game 5 tinyurl.com/w66724xh
Deandre Ayton’s impact tinyurl.com/bddjsncd pic.twitter.com/lRmvITpbpB – 12:21 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
On the latest @PHNX_Suns pod, we talked about how Devin Booker is taking his game to another level, especially on defense
Listen: https://t.co/ewVh6HjmBg pic.twitter.com/rCVuOFtjpA – 11:04 AM

StatMuse @statmuse
Most points + rebounds + assists this season:
188 — Jimmy Butler
181 — Nikola Jokic
178 — Devin Booker, De’Aaron Fox pic.twitter.com/Nx3YRvZ9oj – 10:21 AM

Stephen Noh @StephNoh
Aside from Jimmy Butler, Devin Booker has been the best two-way player in the playoffs. He’s second in points per game, and his defense has been WAY better than his reputation suggests.
On Booker’s defensive improvements:
sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/de… – 9:26 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker loves seeing friend D’Angelo Russell trying to promote Coco5 at press conference (w/videos) #Lakers #Suns #NBAPlayoffs @drinkCOCO5 azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 2:28 AM