Devin Booker brought the flamethrower to Utah, exploding for a season-high 59 points, the third highest single-game total in Suns franchise history.
Booker shot 19-of-34 from the field, 5-of-8 from the three-point line and 16-of-17 from the free throw line in the 125-92 loss.
Devin Booker (59 points on Monday) is the third player in @NBAHistory to score at least 50 points in a game in which none of his teammates scored 10+ points. He joins David Robinson (71 pts on April 24, 1994, SA at LAC) and Kobe Bryant (62 pts on Dec. 20, 2005, LAL vs. DAL).
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) March 26, 2019
Booker scored 64% of the Suns total points, joining Charles Barkley and Tom Chambers as the only Suns with multiple 50-point games, with today's effort coming exactly two years and one day since he scored a franchise-record 70 points in a loss against the Boston Celtics.
Per ESPN Stats and Info, Booker is just the fourth player in NBA history with multiple 50-point games before his 23rd birthday, joining Rick Barry (7), LeBron James (3) and Kyrie Irving (2). Booker is now the 12th different player this season to score 50 points in a game, extending the current record
Devin Booker becomes the 4th player in NBA history with multiple 50-point games before his 23rd birthday, joining Rick Barry (7), LeBron James (3) and Kyrie Irving (2).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 26, 2019
Booker is the 12th different player to score 50 points in a game this season, extending the NBA record. pic.twitter.com/SAsvkSNak5
Booker checked out of the game with 5:12 remaining, but returned with 2:57 left, scoring three more points, including this ridiculous finish over two defenders.
Two guys all over Book?
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 26, 2019
Don't matter. 59 POINTS! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/omLdRxjgyg
The Jazz had seen enough and with less than 30 seconds left they intentionally fouled De’Anthony Melton so Booker wouldn't have a chance to get 60+ on the night.
With Josh Jackson (right ankle sprain), Tyler Johnson (sore right knee), T.J. Warren (right ankle soreness) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left thumb sprain) sidelined, Booker picked up the slack and then some, with Deandre Ayton the next-highest scorer with nine points.
The rookie big man had a tough night at the office against Rudy Gobert, who poured in 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and two blocks.
In the process, Gobert recorded his 270th dunk of the season, giving him the record for the most dunks in a single season since they began recording the stat in 2000. Dwight Howard was the previous owner of the record with 269.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 26, 2019
All five of the Jazz's starters scored in double figures on the night, with Derrick Favors and Ricky Rubio scoring 18 points apiece, while Joe Ingles added 14 points and seven assists and Donovan Mitchell 10 points.
The Jazz have now won seven of their past eight games, moving into a tie for the fifth seed with the Los Angeles Clippers at 44-30 on the season.
Newly-signed Sun Jimmer Fredette received a warm welcome back to Utah, where he starred in college for BYU, sending the crowd wild after scoring his first point of the game at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
Jimmer Fredette scores his first bucket for the Suns and Jazz fans go wild, I love the NBA pic.twitter.com/fJQ9xuqZFe
— Chris Montano (@gswchris) March 26, 2019
Fredette finished with six points on 1-of-10 shooting and 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
