Phoenix Suns: Top 10 moments from 2017-18 NBA season
1. 46 for the Sixers
It wasn’t quite 70 points, but Devin Booker’s 46-point detonation in an impressive win over the Philadelphia 76ers was still the highlight of the 2017-18 season for the Phoenix Suns.
On Dec. 4, Triano’s squad was preparing for the fifth game of a six-game road trip. The team had just lost by five points in Boston two nights before, with Booker going off for 38 points, five assists and four rebounds in his first game back at the TD Garden since his career-changing night.
In Philly, he would somehow top that 38-point game, exploding for a season-high 46 points and eight rebounds on 17-of-32 shooting from the field, 5-of-8 shooting from 3-point range and 7-of-8 shooting from the foul line.
Devin Booker lights up for a season-high 46 points in @suns road win in Philly! #SunsAt50 pic.twitter.com/heRPYRyuhw
— NBA (@NBA) December 5, 2017
Even better, for all the nonsense about Devin Booker not being a winner, his eye-popping numbers actually led the Suns to victory on this night — and against the eventual 3-seed in the East on the backend of a six-game road trip, at that.
In that 14-point win, Booker was the driving force late in the game, supplying dagger after dagger to keep the Sixers at bay. He outplayed rookie phenom Ben Simmons and The Process himself, Joel Embiid, even driving past the seven-footer out of a double-team to throw down an impressive dunk.
In the fourth quarter, the Suns entered the period with a 10-point lead. Thanks to Booker’s 19 points in the final frame, they walked away with a double-digit victory. Book scored 19 of his team’s 26 points in the fourth, including an impossible, contested dagger to put Phoenix up 14 with three minutes to go.
Suns down the 76ers: 115-101
— Devon Haripal (@DevonHaripalNBA) December 5, 2017
Devin Booker drops 46 points, his second-career 40+ point game.
Tyler Ulis finishes with 12 points/assists, his first double-double of the season, seventh of his career.#SunsAt50 #SunsAtSixers pic.twitter.com/4A2bYf7UYV
Just for fun, he followed that up with a 28-foot 3-ball to pour mounds of salt in the wound:
Sure, Devin. Okay. pic.twitter.com/VY9aZdSTnL
— Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) December 5, 2017
It wasn’t often that the rest of the world got to see Devin Booker put up big numbers and actually enjoy a team win in the process. For those who think this 21-year-old isn’t a winner, however, the game tape from this one does not lie.
Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft
The Suns only had 21 wins on the season, but this was easily the most impressive one and it was certainly the most fun. Here’s hoping there are plenty more like it in the future when Booker has some actual help around him.