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Devin Booker’s 52 Point Masterclass vs Pelicans Gets Suns Star in Elite Company With Wilt Chamberlain

Published 04/01/2024, 11:08 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

It looks like Devin Booker has the New Orleans Pelicans’ number. Booker led the Phoenix Suns to a 124-111 blowout victory over Zion Williamson and Co. for the second time this season. The 4-time All-Star put on a scoring clinic in New Orleans tonight, finishing with 52 points and 9 assists. Booker’s dominant performance even put him in elite company with legend Wilt Chamberlain because of his unique stats.

With his 52-point outing, Booker joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players in NBA history to have three consecutive 50-point games against the same team. The Suns shooting guard enters a different zone when he faces the Pelicans. Booker coincidentally also scored 52 points the last time he faced the Pelicans in January. And he had an incredible 58-point game against them on December 17, 2022. Thanks to Booker’s consecutive 50-point games, the Suns beat the Pelicans on all three occasions.

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Booker’s two 52-point performances against the Pelicans this year are tied for his second-highest scoring games this season. His season-high came against the Indiana Pacers on 26th January, when Booker went off for 62 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Unfortunately, the Suns lost to the Pacers that night despite Booker’s season-best performance. Although Booker will be happy to join the company of Wilt Chamberlain, he will be happier to come out with a crucial win so close to the playoffs.

The Suns are in a heated playoff battle and trying to avoid the play-in tournament by grabbing a higher seed. With only 7 games remaining in the regular season, every win holds significant weight and could decide the fate of Devin Booker and Co. The Suns rose to the 7th seed with tonight’s win and hope to climb further in the standings.

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Devin Booker’s scoring outburst comes as no surprise

It comes as no surprise that Devin Booker joined Wilt Chamberlain with a unique scoring record. While everyone knows Booker as an elite scorer today, he started showing signs of greatness at an early age. Booker created history in 2017 by becoming the youngest player (20) in NBA history to score 70 points in a game. Although the Suns lost to the Boston Celtics that night, Booker broke multiple records. He set a new Suns franchise record and became the first player to score 70 points in a game since Kobe Bryant’s historic 81-point game.

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From that point on, everyone knew Booker was destined for greatness. At just 27 years old, Booker has established himself as one of the best scorers in the league. Apart from his rookie season in 2016, Booker has never averaged less than 22 points in a season. Despite playing alongside two elite scorers, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal, Booker has maintained his high-scoring output. He is averaging 27 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds this season. The Suns hope Booker’s scoring prowess can help them get into the playoffs and fulfill their Championship dream.

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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Rohan Singh Bhaunt, an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports, boasts a background as a divisional basketball player and an NBA enthusiast spanning over a decade. His extensive knowledge of the sport enables him to intricately explore its nuances, presenting a fresh outlook. Rohan's dive into the NBA newsdesk at ES commenced with witnessing LeBron James secure his inaugural championship in Miami.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja