Devin Booker explained why the Phoenix Suns allowed 25 3-point shots the NBA’s best team, the Boston Celtics, in their 127-112 loss at TD Garden on Thursday night.
Via AZCentral.com:
“They just let it fly,” said Booker, who missed five of six shots to start the game and finished making 9 of 20 shots (1 of 6 for three) for 23 points. “It’s one of those teams that’s going to go at it every night…it’s different than most nights. We knew coming in we just had to adapt to it.
Booker and the Suns played each of their games against the Celtics in the 2023-24 season last week. The 27-year-old Suns franchise player did not play last Saturday in the team’s 117-107 loss, but felt he saw a way for Phoenix to protect Boston.
“In transition, don’t always run to the paint,” Booker said. “…You just have to adapt to it.
“You must withdraw.”
The Suns fell to 38-28, a half-game behind the Sacramento Kings for seventh place and 1 1/2 games behind the Pelicans for fifth place. Phoenix, however, is only a half-game ahead of the No. 8 seed Dallas Mavericks, so every game counts.
Phoenix concludes its three-game road game Friday against the Charlotte Hornets, who are 17-49 this season.
Booker addressed the Suns’ playoff rankings.
“Really big,” Booker said. “Every game at this point. We know the situation, we have to win every match possible.
The four-time All-Star has been the Suns’ best player. He averages the sixth-most points (27.4) in the NBA while contributing the 12th-best mark (6.8) per game.
Booker in the 2023 playoffs with Kevin Durant became the first player to score 300 points in nine games of a playoff series, and did so on 70% true shooting, an NBA record.
