Jonas Valanciunas was terrific for the Memphis Grizzlies yet again.
The Lithuanian big man was on a mission tonight and he could not be stopped as he led the Grizzlies past the Phoenix Suns 120-115.
Valanciunas stuffed the stat sheet scoring 34 points (16-28 FG) to go with 20 rebound, five assists, two steals and two blocks. 11 of his 20 rebounds came on the offensive glass!
34 PTS | 20 REB
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2019
Jonas Valanciunas had himself a GAME. 😳#GrindCity pic.twitter.com/QccloQQ4YT
The Grizzlies needed every bit of Valanciunas' performance to outlast another ridiculous performance from Suns' star Devin Booker.
Booker came out gunning for the third-straight game tonight. After scoring 50-plus in back-to-back contests, Booker scored a quarter season-high 24 points in the first frame to pick up right where he left off.
The Kentucky-product was chasing history, aiming to join Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant as the only players to ever score 50-plus in three consecutive games.
He fell just short of that mark, going for 48 points (and 11 assists) on 19-for-29 shooting from the field, 3-for-6 from long range and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
After dropping 50 PTS in back-to-back games, @DevinBook went for 48 PTS tonight ☄️#TimeToRise pic.twitter.com/eeDUqCheFF
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 31, 2019
In this instance, Booker will have to settle for being the first player in Suns history to score 40 points in three consecutive games.