A day before the 2021 NBA All-Star reserves were set to be announced, Suns Devin Booker made sure he put everybody on notice.
Through three quarters against the Portland Trail Blazers, the 6'5" guard scored 34 points on an efficienct 12-of-17 shooting from the field and for not the first time this season, he started out on fire:
D-Book came to play 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 23, 2021
17 PTS | 6-8 FG | 10 min pic.twitter.com/TQPALcdtai
He chipped-in with another 12 points in the third quarter when the Suns opened the game up by outscoring the Trail Blazers 37-17.
Booker has had the hot hand in February, averaging 26.8 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting nearly 53 percent from the field, 44 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent from the free-throw line.
As he has racked up those numbers, the Suns have gone 10-2 in February and have overall won 12 of their 14. A large part of the team's recent success has been courtesy the play of their backcourt in Booker and Chris Paul, and the team defence, something that held Damian Lillard to just 24 points (1-7 3s) and seven assists.
"There's no doubt about it," Suns head coach Monty Williams said postgame. "No one can debate that Book's not an All-Star. End of story."
Booker, however, believes there should be not one, but two Suns in the All-Star Game.
Booker thinks he and CP3 should be in the ASG.
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) February 23, 2021
We'll find out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/yGWk9O5dwJ
The shooting guard was one of five players to score in double figures as Paul took the back seat in this one, scoring just two points but dishing out a game-high nine assists.
The Suns now improve to 20-10 for the season, their best 30-game start since 2007-08. This win, by a blowout margin of 32 points (132-100), is the first time the franchise has recorded consecutive 30-point wins in over three decades.
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