Devin Booker erupted for 43 points to lead the Phoenix Suns past the short-handed Golden State Warriors 131-122, sending Golden State to a rare 0-3 start.
If you watched the Phoenix Suns get blown out by 41 points in Portland on Wednesday night, you probably had a few questions about where this team’s offense was headed. By Saturday night, Devin Booker answered every single one of them.
Playing in front of a packed, restless crowd in downtown Phoenix, the five-time All-Star put the team on his back and dropped a season-high 43 points to push the Suns past the Golden State Warriors 131-122 (Inquirer Sports). The win gave Phoenix its fifth straight victory in a home opener and handed Golden State its first 0-3 start to a regular season in 19 years (CBS Sports).
It wasn’t always pretty early on, especially when Phoenix couldn’t buy a bucket from outside. Still, when your best player shoots 68 percent from the floor, good things tend to happen.
Shake-Off Mode After a Brutal Opening Night
Nobody in the Phoenix locker room wanted a repeat of Wednesday’s 124-83 loss to the Trail Blazers (98.1 The Sports Animal). You could feel the tension in the building during the first quarter on Saturday when the Suns bricked 11 of their first 12 three-point attempts (Inquirer Sports).
Instead of forcing up bad perimeter jumpers, Booker went back to what makes him one of the toughest covers in basketball. He attacked the midrange, worked off screens, and got to the free-throw line.
How Booker Kept Phoenix Afloat in the First Half
While the rest of the roster searched for a rhythm, Booker poured in 19 first-half points to give the Suns a slim 57-54 edge heading into the locker room (Inquirer Sports). He didn’t hunt for highlights; he just took what the defense gave him.
By the final buzzer, Booker’s stat line looked like something out of a video game:
- 43 total points on an ultra-efficient 17-of-25 shooting from the field (NBC Sports).
- 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, knocking down his free throws whenever Golden State tried to play physical (NBC Sports).
- 7 rebounds and 7 assists, proving he was just as willing to set up open teammates as he was to score (GMA Network).
- Nearly double his opening-night output, bouncing back sharply from his 23-point showing against Portland (NBC Sports).
The Third-Quarter Burst That Broke Golden State
Championship-caliber teams usually make their move coming out of halftime, and that’s exactly how Saturday played out. Booker caught fire in the third quarter, hanging 17 points on the Warriors in just twelve minutes of action (Inquirer Sports).
Every time Golden State made a mini-run to cut the deficit to one possession, Booker had an answer from the elbow. Then, right before the third-quarter horn sounded, guard Jordan Goodwin buried a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to stretch the Phoenix lead to 102-92 (Inquirer Sports).
Role Players Step Up in the Fourth Quarter
A 43-point night gets all the headlines, but Booker didn’t close this one out by himself. When the Warriors tried to trap him high above the three-point line in the fourth quarter, Phoenix’s supporting cast made them pay.
Three offseason additions and starters stood out down the stretch:
- Miles Bridges gave Phoenix a steady second scoring option all night, finishing with 16 points by cutting hard to the rim (AP News).
- Dillon Brooks brought his trademark toughness on the wing and chipped in 15 points along with five assists (Inquirer Sports).
- Luke Kennard showed why the front office brought him in this summer, drilling 3-of-5 from three-point land for 11 points, including a cold-blooded triple with six minutes left that pushed the lead to 117-102 (Inquirer Sports).
Why the Warriors Are Sitting at 0-3
Before Golden State fans hit the panic button, it helps to look at the schedule and the injury report. Saturday was the Warriors’ third game in four nights, and the coaching staff opted to sit almost their entire veteran core (Inquirer Sports).
Four key rotational players watched from the sidelines in street clothes:
- Stephen Curry sat out to manage right knee soreness (Inquirer Sports).
- Draymond Green was held out with low back tightness (Inquirer Sports).
- Al Horford also missed the contest due to a low back issue (Inquirer Sports).
- Brandin Podziemski rounded out the inactive list with low back soreness (Inquirer Sports).
A Silver Lining in Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg
Even shorthanded, the Warriors didn’t roll over. Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg looked completely fearless under the bright lights, dropping a season-high 26 points and knocking down six three-pointers (Inquirer Sports). He scored 13 of those points in the first half alone to keep the game tight (Inquirer Sports).
Veteran guard De’Anthony Melton also had a strong showing, putting up 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting (Inquirer Sports). Finding out that Lendeborg and Melton can carry a heavy offensive load will pay off later in the winter, even if it didn’t result in a win on Saturday.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many points did Devin Booker score against the Warriors?
Devin Booker scored an impressive 43 points against the Golden State Warriors, leading the Phoenix Suns to an important victory. His offensive performance highlighted his scoring ability, shot-making skills, and leadership under pressure.
2. Why is the Warriors’ 0-3 start significant?
The Golden State Warriors’ 0-3 start is notable because it marks their first winless opening stretch through three games in 19 years, according to the headline. Such a start can raise questions about team chemistry, defensive consistency, and how quickly the squad can find its rhythm.
3. What does this result mean for the Phoenix Suns?
The victory gives the Phoenix Suns an early confidence boost and highlights their potential to compete against established NBA teams. Booker’s scoring performance could be an important factor as Phoenix works to build consistency throughout the season. For the Warriors, the priority will be to address their weaknesses and turn their early struggles into a stronger run of performances.