By the numbers: Devin Booker explodes for career playoff high 47 points in Game 6 to eliminate Lakers

Author Photo
Kane Pitman
and others
• 4 min read
#Booker

A playoff debut to remember.

Phoenix Suns' star Devin Booker poured in 47 points to lead his team to a 4-2 series win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers.

It was a remarkable performance from Booker, with Phoenix head coach Monty Williams full of praise for his star guard.

"Players like Book have a determination about them," Suns head coach Monty Williams said. "I've said this about him, he doesn't run from the moment. In this particular case the moment was the whole game."

MORE: Booker was thinking of Kobe after 47-pt performance

Let's break down Booker's incredible individual performance.

Career playoff high

The 47 points is a playoff career-high for Booker, putting him in some special company when it comes to similar postseason performances.

In adding 11 rebounds. Booker joins Charles Barkley as the only players in Phoenix franchise history to post 45 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game.

"He's one of those guys who wants to move himself into the elite class. He believes he's one of the best players in the league. He doesn't believe there's a better person at his position for sure and I'm certain he believes he's one of the top players and this is where you get to show it, in the playoffs."

First quarter explosion

With the series tied at 2-2 before Game 5, it's clear Booker went out of his way to land early statement blows to the Lakers.

In Game 5 it was an 18-point first quarter, in Game 6 he went to the next level, dropping 22 points including six made triples. The outside barrage equalled an NBA record for threes in a playoff quarter, in a feat that was also matched earlier in the night by the Denver Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr.

"Just trying to get it done, trying to come out swinging, ready to go," Booker said. "That's pretty much it, I just want to win the game."

Efficient domination

We already mentioned the six triples in the first quarter, but Booker was on fire from all angles in this one.

Finishing 15-for-22 from the field and 8-for-10 from deep, it was seemingly all too easy for Booker who found himself in the zone from opening tip.

Drawing repeated double teams in the second half, Booker facilitated to create open shots for his teammates, but still managed 14 points in the second half. The exclamation point came on a dunk with 37 seconds left with a technical foul coming soon after as trash talk began to fly between the two teams.

Complete series

Booker's first playoff series is in the books.

Tallying averages of 29.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists on 48/43/93 shooting splits, any thought of playoff nerves were quickly dissolved in this series.

Topping 30 points in four of the six games, per the TNT boradcast, Booker became the eighth player in NBA history to drop 30+ in four of his first six playoff games.

"I don't know if it's different," Booker said on playoff basketball. "When you hear about something for so long, until you get out and experience it for yourself, that's the only time you get to feel it. Obviously very chippy, a lot of words being said. They say that's the playoffs, you have to come in with the next game mentality. You have to be all the way locked in until the end."

What's next?

The Suns will now move onto a second-round series against the Denver Nuggets, with the Suns holding home court to start the series.

"It's only one series. We still have a lot of work to do," Booker said postgame.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.

Author(s)
Kane Pitman Photo
Kane Pitman