The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets faced off for the second time in the span of eight days yesterday, so of course there was some hustle and bustle involved.
Last night, Phoenix prevailed with a 110-105 home victory get revenge 114-110 loss last week in Houston.
Things got particularly heated with just under seven minutes remaining when Devin Booker and rookie Cam Whitmore, who had been talking to each other throughout the game, started a fight. Booker was walking onto the court after making his sixth 3 of the night and collided with Whitmore. Thrusting and jawing ensued on the other side of the floor. Booker and Whitmore received technical briefings on the incident.
Things got ugly between Devin Booker and Cam Whitmore ???? pic.twitter.com/l3bQW6Akde
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 1, 2024
“I think it’s always fun to turn up the volume a little bit,” Booker said in his postgame interview about the altercation. “Become ultra-competitive. That’s the goal of this sport. I feel like we’re moving away from it, the NBA as a whole. Nothing personal, just competition.
Devin Booker on the skirmish with Cam Whitmore:
“I think it’s always fun to turn up the volume a little bit. That’s what sport is, I feel like we’re moving away from it. Nothing personal, just competition. pic.twitter.com/qtwbvEQJE2
– CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) March 1, 2024
During his post-match press conference, Booker further explained what caused the tension between the two.
“It started last game, it’s the same thing,” Booker said. “I’m just competing, being very physical. I like this. I have been in these situations many times before. I was that same young player doing the same thing. I remember doing that to Jimmy Butler my freshman year.
“You never want to back down, and I respect going after a top player. You just have to be ready for it.
On the next possession, Suns center Jusuf Nurkić blocked Whitmore twice and forced a jump ball. Nurkić did not mince his words about this incident.
“The kid did some bull riding – in Houston too, if you remember,” Nurkić said. “They want to play absurd basketball. I understand that they are young and they have to get fired up. They have a good coach and I think they have a good foundation for the future, but we don’t want to do any basketball antics. I always want to have the support of my teammates.
Booker said it was “very important” for Nurkić to respond like that on the defensive end.
“Having your team stick together goes a long way,” Booker said. “That’s what you need when things get tough, when things get into the thick of things and energies are high. You want to know that your team has people built like that for you.
Just one minute into the game, Rockets center Alperen Sengun was ejected for arguing with officials. The Rockets then engaged in a “hack-a-Nurkić” strategy, intentionally committing two fouls on the Suns big man when he didn’t even have the ball. Nurkić struggled from the line that night, going 8 for 16, and compared himself to Shaquille O’Neal after the game. Teams infamously used this strategy, coined “hack-a-Shaq”, against O’Neal because he was not a good free throw shooter.
“I love it,” Nurkić said of the foul. “I hope they do that every game. Sixteen free throws, I take them. I showed that I’m not really Shaq like tonight. Obviously, I was definitely Shaq tonight, 8 for 16. I hope they do it next game too.
Nurkić later added that teams are intentionally physical with the Suns.
“It’s the Phoenix Suns, I guess there are not many teams that can have such talent and beat us with pure talent,” Nurkić said. “A lot of teams try to play very physical, and you have to respond in the right way.”
These two teams meet again on Saturday, but Booker said there won’t be any added motivation in terms of composure despite these incidents.
“We don’t need it,” Booker said. “We lost to them the last game and we didn’t want to lose after two tough games in a row. Have three days to rest afterwards and prepare for this one. Obviously it has a playoff feel, you play a team three times in one week.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow it X via @Brendan_Mau
