The Phoenix Suns have relied on All-Star guard Devin Booker to get their offense going to start games all year, and that continued in Tuesday’s 110-80 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, Booker — the second-leading first quarter scorer by average in the NBA this year — hit five of eight shots to score 12 points in the opening 12 minutes.
His second bucket was an off-balance, fadeaway eight-footer over the arms of Mavs 6-foot-7 forward Dorian Finney-Smith. Booker hit the shot off one leg on his way down.
Book only needing one foot on this one. pic.twitter.com/P3LmMTKfxa
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) May 11, 2022
When point guard Chris Paul came off the court with 2:17 left in the first quarter, Point Book took charge.
The Suns elected to keep Cameron Payne on the bench, rolling with Booker, Cameron Johnson, Landry Shamet, Bismack Biyombo and Mikal Bridges.
Booker scored four points to keep Phoenix close going into the second.
Dallas hit four shots from deep in the opening quarter and led 26-23.
Booker finished the first half with 16 points, including a transition dunk to tie the game with 3:47 left in the second.
He had 19 first-half points in Game 4, a 111-101 loss for Phoenix.
IT’S LOUD IN HERE
pic.twitter.com/k69zbn3GnW
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 11, 2022
The Suns All-Star guard finished the contest with a team-high 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting (55%) and 3-for-7 (42.9%) from deep.
Booker also had two assists, seven rebounds and two steals in 35 minutes on the court.
The Suns will look to win the series in Game 6 in Dallas on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.