PHOENIX – Kevin Durant is the most accomplished player on the Phoenix Suns with two championships on his resume. But if there’s any question about who the Suns’ franchise player is, Devin Booker has answered that in emphatic fashion during these playoffs.
With the Chris Paul-less Suns’ backs against the wall down 2-0 against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, Booker delivered an impressive performance to steer Phoenix to a 121-114 win. The three-time All-Star matched his playoff career-high by pouring in 47 points, adding nine assists, six rebounds and three steals. He shot a sizzling 20 of 25 from the floor in what was a masterful performance from the 6-foot-5 guard.
“Book was amazing from start to finish,” Suns coach Monty Williams said postgame. “I just thought it was his will (and) determination. Reading the defense (and) getting off the ball. Evening defensively, just competing.”
The Suns needed every one of Booker’s 47 points to hold off a Nuggets team that was determined to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Booker’s hot shooting night got the Suns back in the series and may have saved the team’s season.
“Book just, you can’t say enough about Book. I’m at a loss for words. Just how he approaches the game, how he’s a leader of this team (and) this organization,” said Durant, who had 39 points in the win. “How he brings it every single day and we just follow his imprint. We rally around him. (Friday) was one of those nights.”
It was “one of those nights” for Booker, but he’s been on a hot streak these playoffs. He has an NBA-best three 40-point games and six 30-point games this postseason. Booker is averaging an NBA-high 36.9 points in this year’s playoffs and he’s the first player since Michael Jordan in 1992 to average 35-plus points through the first eight games of a postseason.
“Just trying to be aggressive. Being ultra-aggressive,” Booker said. “I understand that it opens things up for my teammates when I play that way. At the same time, just taking what the defense gives me.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devin Booker goes off to save Suns’ season in NBA playoffs vs. Nuggets