Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker hailed as "MVP" contender by home crowd at Footprint Center
On Thursday, Phoenix Suns' Devin Booker scored a season-high 51 points against the Chicago Bulls to cries of "MVP" from home fans at the Footprint Center. Does he deserve consideration in the current standings? Read below for his post-game thoughts...
Thursday 1 December 2022 09:22, UK
The 26-year-old's confidence was on a high as he netted basket after basket to earn his team a compelling 132-113 victory, "It felt like a double-sized rim out there," Booker said. "If I rise up, it's going in."
And it certainly did in the first half where he put away 25 points, with the remaining 26 arriving two quarters later.
Interestingly, after another contested 3-pointer splashed through the net, "MVP! MVP!" chants broke out across Footprint Center, and Booker is certainly making an early-season case.
"It's the best," Booker said about the home crowd. "I don't know how many sell-out crowds that is in a row, but it's impressive. Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays, it doesn't matter what day of the week it is. They show up and show out".
The two-time All-Star had a steal late in the third before sprinting downcourt and flushing home a dunk for his 50th and 51st points.
He added six assists and four rebounds, as well as being assisted by Deandre Ayton, who contributed with 30 points and 14 rebounds to stretch Phoenix's winning streak to six games.
The double-team damage proved to be too much for the Bulls, and point guard Zach LaVine agreed as much when he said "He (Booker) gets it going and it's over".
Bulls bulldozed by Booker
Though the Bulls did try to manage Booker's presence in and outside the paint, it seemed that whatever they threw at him, from screens to trapping, the Suns' star seem to bulldoze through.
"There's not a level where he can't score," Suns coach Monty Williams said. "He can use both hands; he can score with a hand in his face and he's willing to take the tough shots."
It was Booker's second straight 40-point game. He had 44 in a victory at Sacramento on Monday night. The shot consistency and conversion combined has given him growing attention in the MVP running, and not just from his own fans.
If he can continue to replicate that - a feat that shouldn't be too difficult against their next opponents, the 5-16 Houston Rockets - then there's no reason why he won't be able to challenge the likes of Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry.
Speaking of the Dubs, the Bulls face the Golden State Warriors next, who narrowly lost to the Dallas Mavericks on account of Doncic, but otherwise have picked up form in the West Conference.
