The Phoenix Suns were in dire need of a bucket during the third quarter of Wednesday’s 105-98 victory against the Dallas Mavericks.
Phoenix fell behind by eight after scoring just six points in nearly five minutes of action.
Suns guard Devin Booker was leading the team with 17 points, and his next bucket would be a spectacle.
Against a bigger defender, Reggie Bullock, Booker crossed over to his right and drove hard. Using his arm for leverage, he spun away at the elbow.
Mavericks power forward Kristaps Porzingis came up to contest Booker from the restricted area.
The Suns’ guard went up with two hands off his left shoulder, ducked the ball under Porzingis’ arms and flipped it up around the Dallas big with his right hand.
The shot banked in perfectly as Booker hit the deck.
BOOK WILL FIND A WAY!
pic.twitter.com/DRwLKc6NBF
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) November 18, 2021
This move, understandably, stemmed a reaction on Twitter:
Devin Booker with the ‘in front of the basket DR J move’ around Porzingis pic.twitter.com/7jZnfZsdXD
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) November 18, 2021
How did Devin Booker make this?!
pic.twitter.com/kpcKoEnA91
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) November 18, 2021
There is no shot Devin Booker can’t make.
Just Book doing Book things. pic.twitter.com/wY0qxglwGQ
— Suns Are Better (@SunsAreBetter) November 18, 2021
That bucket sparked a mini run for Phoenix, as the Suns cut the deficit to 67-66 before Dallas got back out in front by five heading into the fourth quarter.
The Suns went on to win the final 12 minutes 37-25 for their 10th straight victory.
Wednesday was a difficult shooting night for many of the Suns’ players.
Booker kept the Suns alive in various stretches, leading the team with 24 points by the final whistle.
He had 11 in the opening period.
With under minute left in the game, Booker drilled a huge three pointer as the shot clock expired to give Phoenix a 103-96 lead.
Wednesday was Booker’s third straight game eclipsing 20 points.
The Suns will face the Mavericks again Friday in Phoenix at 8 p.m.