money More 'spiritual' performances by Devin Booker might be what Suns need to upset top seeded Nuggets
PHOENIX – Devin Booker was just about as hot as a summer day in Arizona.
The Phoenix Suns shooting guard caught fire, scoring 25 points in the third quarter on 10-of-11 shooting. He outscored the Los Angeles Clippers 25-24 by himself in quarter as the Suns scored a franchise single-quarter high 50 points. Booker and the Suns’ scorching third helped the club stave off the Clippers in a 136-130 series-clinching win.
"Just feeling it out. We stressed in the locker room; we didn’t want to go back to L.A. unless it was for the Western Conference Finals," Booker said about his third quarter. "Just wanting to get it done."
Booker, who went into the game averaging 34.8 points this postseason, finished the game tying a career playoff-high with 47 points and he dished out 10 assists.
"It was spiritual," Suns forward Kevin Durant said postgame of Booker’s performance. "We feed off his aggression. Not just us on the team. Suns fans watching TV, Suns fans in the arena. His impact and his presence just means a lot to us. That was incredible to see and good to be a part of."
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Durant contributed 31 points in the Game 5 win.
The Suns are 12-1 (including playoffs) in games with Durant since he was acquired in a blockbuster trade in February.
Phoenix caught a break in the opening round when Clippers star Kawhi Leonard went down with a right knee injury. Leonard was the best player on the court in Game 1. But his absence after Game 2 drastically changed the complexion of the series. The Clippers’ margin for error was already thin without Paul George, who was battling a right knee injury of his own.
Suns to face No. 1 seed Nuggets
While the Clippers were depleted, the Suns' next opponent is not.
The Western Conference’s No. 1 seed Denver Nuggets await. The Nuggets advanced to the semifinals after beating the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. Denver’s trio of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are healthy. Murray and Jokić combined for 63 points in the Nuggets’ series-clinching win.
The two clubs split the seasons series, 2-2. The Western Conference semifinals matchup between the top-seeded Nuggets and fourth-seeded Suns tips off Saturday.
"It’s gonna be fun. They are the best," Suns center Deandre Ayton said of the Nuggets. "Suns basketball we try to compete and beat the best. That’s what we’re looking forward to. I know it’s not gonna be easy but it’s gonna be a great series."
It should be a great series. The Suns are a confident team rolling into Denver. Phoenix has enough top-end talent to upset the Nuggets, especially if Booker continues to have "spiritual" postseason performances.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Devin Booker leads Suns into Western Conference showdown vs. Nuggets
