BBNBA: Devin Booker drops 27 in return from injury as Suns top Cavaliers
After sitting out the last four games with an ankle injury, Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker didn’t skip a beat in his return on Monday night.
The former Kentucky guard poured in 27 points in the Suns 117-111 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Booker shot 11-22 from the field to get there, including a 1-7 mark from deep. He also chipped in six rebounds and seven assists in 38 minutes played.
Phoenix actually trailed 63-44 halfway through the second quarter but responded with a devastating 43-15 run that continued throughout the third period. At one point, Booker grabbed three offensive rebounds in one possession before drilling a bank shot. Cleveland should have known then and there that this wasn’t going to be their night.
With the win, Phoenix is now 38-27 on the season, good enough for the Western Conference’s six-seed. They now sit a full game ahead of the Sacramento Kings, which holds the final Play-In Tournament spot. Booker was aided by 37 points, eight rebounds, and six assists from teammate Kevin Durant.
Other BBNBA notes
- It was a light slate of games on Monday night, but Jamal Murray was one of the few highlights along with Booker. The former Wildcat led his Denver Nuggets to a 125-119 win over the Toronto Raptors, which was without shooting guard Immanuel Quickley due to a hip injury. Murray went for 26 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds in 39 minutes — his ninth double-double of the season. Twelve of his 26 points came in the fourth quarter as Denver rallied from down 21 points in the third to steal a win.
- Nick Richards recorded his 16th double-double of the season in the Charlotte Hornets’ 114-97 loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons. Richards posted 10 points and 13 rebounds on 5-7 shooting in 35 minutes.
- Keldon Johnson and the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Golden State Warriors 112-102. Johnson registered 16 points and six rebounds on 5-12 shooting in his 30 minutes of action.
BBNBA stats (3/11/24)
| Player | Score | PTS | FG (3PT) | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | +/- | MIN |
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 117-111 W @ CLE | 27 | 11-22 (1-7) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 38 |
| Jamal Murray (DEN) | 125-119 W vs. TOR | 26 | 11-19 (2-6) | 5 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 39 |
| Keldon Johnson (SAS) | 112-102 L vs. GSW | 16 | 5-12 (2-6) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -10 | 30 |
| Nick Richards (CHA) | 114-97 L @ DET | 10 | 5-7 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -8 | 35 |
| PJ Washington (DAL) | 127-92 W @ CHI | 7 | 3-5 (1-3) | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 23 |
| Immanuel Quickley (TOR) | 125-119 L @ DEN | DNP-Hip | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Shaedon Sharpe (POR) | 121-99 L vs. BOS | DNP-Abdominal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Tonight in the NBA
- 7:30 (TNT) | 76ers (Maxey) @ Knicks (Randle: out, Toppin: 2Way
- 8:00 | Pacers (Jackson, Tshiebwe: 2Way) @ Thunder (Gilgeous-Alexander, Sarr: 2Way, Wallace)
- 8:00 | Wizards @ Grizzlies
- 8:30 | Rockets @ Spurs (Johnson)
- 9:00 | Celtics @ Jazz (Juzang: 2Way)
- 10:00 | Bucks (Livingston: 2Way, Washington: 2Way) @ Kings (Fox, Lyles, Monk)
- 10:00 (TNT) | Timberwolves (Towns: out) @ Clippers (Boston)
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