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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker will look to bounce back from a horrible shooting night in Game 3 of the 2021 NBA Finals. One of the biggest reasons for the Suns’ 120-100 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday was the 24-year-old’s performance, which was his worst playoff outing so far.
Overall, Devin Booker scored a measly 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting (21.4%) and 1-of-7 (14.3%) from the three-point arc in only 29 minutes of action. It was the least amount of minutes that he had played in the playoffs, and he didn’t appear in the fourth quarter at all.
Devin Booker after a bad game
Over the course of his first postseason appearance, Devin Booker has had a few poor shooting performances. He has mostly been sensational and has been impressing fans, experts and fellow players alike.
In his 19 playoff games so far, Booker has had more than a few subpar shooting nights. The difference in some of the other games is how he was able to get to the line to add to his scoring total. His response after each poor performance has varied.
Those outings, which came after poor performances, could show us what to expect from Devin Booker in Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Heading into Wednesday's encounter in Milwaukee, let’s look at five instances when Devin Booker had to step up after a bad game in the 2021 NBA Playoffs:
1. Bad game: 19 points (6-of-19, 1-of-4 3PT FG, 6-of-7 FT)
Next Game: Game 4 vs LA Lakers (First Round)
Stats: 17 points (5-of-14 FG, 1-of-5 3PT FG, 6-of-7 FT)
Result: Phoenix Suns win
Devin Booker had his first poor shooting game in Game 3 of the first round of the playoffs against the LA Lakers. His display resulted in a second consecutive loss for the Phoenix Suns, who went down 1-2 in the series.
In the very next game, Booker came out flat again but had a +12 plus/minus with an all-around game that saw him grab seven boards and dish out five assists.
Thanks to Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton’s big nights, the Phoenix Suns won 100-92 as they tied the series at two games apiece.
2. Bad game: 17 points (5-of-14 FG, 1-of-5 3PT FG, 6-of-7 FT)
Next Game: Game 5 vs LA Lakers (First Round)
Stats: 30 points (13-of-23 FG, 2-of-6 3PT FG, 2-of-2 FT)
Result: Phoenix Suns win
After two consecutive frigid nights, Devin Booker was determined to forget about his shooting woes for Game 5. The Phoenix Suns guard was smoking hot to start the game, making seven of his first 10 field goal attempts, which included two 3-pointers without a miss.
He had 22 points by halftime and was rested in the fourth quarter, with his team up by 29 points.
3. Bad game: 20 points (5-of-16 FG, 1-of-3 3PT FG, 9-of-9 FT)
Next Game: Game 3 vs LA Clippers (Western Conference Finals)
Stats: 15 points (5-of-21 FG, 1-of-7 3PT FG, 4-of-4 FT)
Result: Phoenix Suns loss
Scoring 20 points doesn’t normally look like a bad shooting night, but it was one of those nights for Devin Booker in Game 2. He shot 31.3 percent from the field, but the Phoenix Suns won 104-103 on a last-second alley-oop by Jae Crowder to Deandre Ayton.
Interesting side note: Patrick Beverley accidentally head-butted Booker on the nose during the game, causing a fractured nose on the Phoenix Suns two-guard, who had to wear a face mask during the next game.
In Game 3, Devin Booker seemed bothered by the face mask and couldn’t shake off his shooting difficulties from the previous game. The result was a 106-92 loss by the Phoenix Suns, who shot a woeful 38.9 percent from the field as a team. Booker dragged down the team’s percentage with his 23.8 percent shooting.
4. Bad game: 15 points (5-of-21 FG, 1-of-7 3PT FG, 4-of-4 FT)
Next Game: Game 4 vs LA Clippers (Western Conference Finals)
Stats: 25 points (8-of-22 FG, 0-of-5 3PT FG, 9-of-11 FT)
Result: Phoenix Suns win
Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was much better for Devin Booker. Though his shooting was still a bit off, it was an improved performance from the two-time All-Star.
In a game when hardly anyone could score, the Phoenix Suns escaped with an 84-80 win for a 3-1 series lead. Booker was 2-of-6 in the fourth quarter but was able to knock down two clutch free throws with 2:16 remaining in the game to give his side a five-point lead.
5. Bad game: 22 points (10-of-26 FG, 1-of-7 3PT FG, 1-of-1 FT)
Next Game: Game 1 vs Milwaukee Bucks (NBA Finals)
Stats: 27 points (8-of-21 FG, 1-of-8 3PT FG, 10-of-10 FT)
Result: Phoenix Suns win
Devin Booker had a bad shooting game in the clinching Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, making just 38.5 percent of his shots. It was a good thing that Chris Paul was available to carry a heavier load than usual, giving the Phoenix Suns a 130-103 win and pushing the team to the NBA Finals.
The next game for Devin Booker was Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The 6-foot-5 guard bounced back with a strong game despite another so-so shooting night that included a horrific 12.5 percent performance from three. He made up for the ice-cold shooting with a perfect 10-of-10 at the line.
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