After a busy offseason or roster upheaval, the biggest question the Phoenix Suns faced was who was going to be their point guard.
Well, one game into the 2023-24 season, they might have just answered that question with All-Star Devin Booker putting on a show as the team's primary playmaker, leading the way to a 108-104 win over the Warriors on opening night.
MORE: Suns vs. Warriors: live score, updates, highlights from Opening Night
In a game that featured Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, Booker was the best point guard on the floor at Chase Center, masterfully orchestrating the Suns' offense on his way to 32 points, eight assists and six rebounds on 13-of-21 shooting.
Booker's playmaking closes out Warriors
After starting the game on fire - scoring 15 first-quarter points - Booker was the steadying force for the Suns throughout the contest.
Then, when his team needed him most down the stretch, he tactfully picked apart the Warriors' defense with a mix of scoring and playmaking to seal the win, scoring or assisting on every basket in the final six minutes of the game — responsible for the team's final 15 points.
Devin Booker with awesome playmaking down the stretch. Generated 8-straight points seen here to clinch the win for the Suns.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) October 25, 2023
Book can use the threat of his scoring to open up his teammates. A complete superstar. pic.twitter.com/uLHkgtTjXA
Booker's ability to leverage the gravity he creates with the threat of his 3-point shooting and find his teammates for open looks was on full display with three straight assists down the stretch.
In response to the doubters who said the Suns don't have a point guard ahead of the season, Booker responded postgame: “I don’t talk to them. I’ll let you guys talk to them.
"Just trying to be aggressive. I had it going in the first half so I knew they were going to throw some different defenses at me and we have guys that can make them pay every time.
“We have experience on this team, top to bottom. From coaching staff, to players, we have guys with championship experience. So I’m leaning on them for a lot, too. It’s our first game together, we still have a lot to do, a lot to grow. But we’re in pretty good shape right now."
In a game where Kevin Durant struggled to get going, scoring 18 points on 22 shots, he marveled at Booker's leadership and composure in crunch time.
"It was incredible, he started off just flaming hot, 15 points in the first quarter, and got us going and just kept us there the whole night," Durant said.
"We're going to need that from him all season, running the offense, making the right plays late, making those three assists late, we're going to need that going forward."
Devin Booker stats vs. Warriors
- 32 minutes
- 32 points
- 8 assists
- 6 rebounds
- 13-21 (61.9 percent) field goal shooting
- 3-8 (37.5 percent) 3-point shooting
- 3-3 (100 percent) free throw shooting
