Phoenix Suns star guard drained the game-winning 3-pointer in Sunday night’s 108-105 home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was his ninth career go-ahead bucket in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Devin Booker Rallied Suns To Victory
After the timeout with the score tied 105-all, Booker caught the inbounds pass and dribbled the ball up the court before launching the step-back jumper over Thunder guard Alex Caruso, leaving 0.7 seconds remaining.
“Been here before,” Booker said after the win. “In my imagination and workouts in the summer, it always comes down to moments like that. So, I felt like I’ve been here before.”
It was the four-time All-Star’s only triple of the game.
Booker had 24 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in 38 minutes of action. He finished 5-for-11 (45.5%) shooting from the field, just 1-of-4 (25%) from beyond the arc, and 13-of-15 (86.7%) from the foul line.
“They play hard. They play together,” said Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “In this league, when you play hard and play together every night, you give yourself a chance. And then you add the talent and the personnel — they’re a good team.”
Oklahoma City’s four-game winning streak was snapped after blowing an 18-point lead. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 25 points while Jalen Williams had 23.
Phoenix Lost Twice Against Thunder
The Suns entered Sunday’s game having lost their first two matchups with Oklahoma City (30-6), including a 49-point loss with Booker sidelined in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
“Obviously, they’re everybody’s target,” Booker said. “Those are the champs, and they are seasoned. They’re a really good team, so that’s who you want to match yourself up against. And we all believed in it.”
Through 32 appearances (all starts) in his 11th NBA season, Booker is averaging 25.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 34.2 minutes per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and a career-worst 29.5% from deep.
He missed three straight games last month due to a right groin strain.
The Suns are also still without Jalen Green, who has missed most of the season due to a right hamstring strain. Green landed in Phoenix over the summer as part of the historic seven-team Durant trade.
During the offseason, Booker signed a two-year, $145 million maximum contract extension through the 2029-30 season, the highest annual extension salary in NBA history.
His annual extension salary ($72.5 million) surpassed reigning Gilgeous-Alexander’s $285 million supermax extension ($71.25 million) for the richest ever.
The Suns visit the Houston Rockets on Monday.
