April 2, (THEWILL)- Devin Booker delivered a sensational 52-point masterclass to propel the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. This outstanding performance narrows the gap between the two teams to just one game, with the Suns now breathing down the Pelicans’ neck for the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The 27-year-old shooting guard etched his name into the NBA history books, alongside Wilt Chamberlain, as the only player to score at least 50 points in three consecutive games against the same opposition. Booker’s recent tear against the Pelicans includes a 52-point explosion on January 19 and a 58-point outburst on December 12, 2022.
“It means a whole lot,” Booker stated, adding: “My family was in attendance for two of them. Any time you get named for something Wilt did – it’s happened very few times in my career – you know you did something special.”
Suns coach Frank Vogel lavished praise on Booker, noting his remarkable comfort level against the Pelicans. “There’s something about playing in this building against this opponent,” Vogel explained, adding: “[He] just really has a comfort zone here. To go for 50 three straight times against a single opponent just shows what kind of special player he is. Three times in a row is just incredible.”
Kevin Durant contributed 20 points, while Josef Nurkic added 19 points and 19 rebounds for the Suns. However, Pelicans coach Willie Green acknowledged his team’s defensive shortcomings, stating: “We have to do better. Quite frankly, we were soft-guarding him. We just had a soft mentality when it came to being physical with him, and he’s a great player, and you can’t allow him to be comfortable.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
