BBNBA: Booker Pops Off Again, Drops 40 on Memphis
(NBAE Getty Images)
Good morning, folks. Devin Booker has scored at least 30 points in six straight games. Let’s talk NBA.
REMINDER: 2020 NBA All-Star fan voting is now OPEN!
RECAP
Booker’s scoring efforts come up short against Memphis
The Phoenix Suns are in the midst of one of its easiest stretches they’ll run through all season. Coming into Sunday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the Suns were 14-21, but not too far out of the playoff picture with four consecutive home games agaisnt sub-.500 teams. Despite 40 points from Devin Booker, the Suns fell to the Grizz, 121-114.
The former Wildcat shot 13-20 from the field in addition to his six assists. With another 30-plus outing, Booker broke Charles Barkley’s old Suns’ record for most games with at least 30 points in a row at six. But the fifth-year guard would have rather earned the win.
”Tonight was a step back,” Booker said. ”We are going to have to respond, finish out this home-stand the right way and hopefully get a few wins before we head out back east.”
Lakers host a block party for Pistons
The Los Angeles Lakers have three premier shot blockers at their disposal; Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, and JaVale McGee. So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to hear that the Lake Show lead the league in blocks. But what will surprise you is when you hear how many rejections they recorded in a 106-99 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Led by a season-high of eight blocks from Davis, the Lakers were just one block short of tying the franchise record set at 21. McGee added six blocks and Howard registered five of his own. A game after giving up 60 points in the paint, Davis made sure that wasn’t going to happen again facing a bruised-up Pistons squad.
”We were just protecting the paint,” said Davis. ”Last game (against New Orleans), we gave up 60-something points in the paint. It’s something we don’t like doing, and we tried to make an emphasis tonight on protecting the paint.”
Davis added 24 points and 11 rebounds in addition to his block total. Rajon Rondo appeared in 20 minutes but recorded just two points, three rebounds, and three assists. He’s scored a combined eight points over his previous four outings. It might be time for the coaching staff to try something else and some fans are getting antsy.
The Lakers have a Rondo problem.
They can’t hold a lead when he’s in.
There… I said it.
I know he’s had a great career and he’s arguably as smart a player that’s ever played the game. However, Father Time is undefeated.
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) January 6, 2020
Other notes
- Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat pulled out a 122-111 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, as the former Kentucky big man posted 20 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Even without Jimmy Butler in the lineup for Miami, the Heat shot over 52 percent from the field to improve to 17-1 at home this season. Tyler Herro went for 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists for Miami.
- The New York Knicks did the best they could against the Los Angeles Clippers, but fell in a barn burner, 135-132. Julius Randle contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals for New York while Kevin Knox was glued to the bench for just six minutes. Knox added a mere two points and one assist. For the Clippers, Patrick Patterson went for six points and two rebounds in his 15th start of the season.
Check out the full stat sheet below.
STATISTICS
| Player | Result | Points | FG (3FG) | Reb. | Ast. | Steals | Blocks | TOs | +/- | Mins. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker (PHX) | 114-121 L vs. MEM | 40 | 13-20 (1-5) | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +5 | 37 |
| Anthony Davis (LAL) | 106-99 W vs. DET | 24 | 7-16 (1-4) | 11 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -11 | 37 |
| Bam Adebayo (MIA) | 122-111 W vs. POR | 20 | 9-10 (0-0) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +9 | 35 |
| Julius Randle (NYK) | 132-135 L @ LAC | 16 | 6-14 (1-4) | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | +2 | 35 |
| Tyler Herro (MIA) | 122-111 W vs. POR | 11 | 4-9 (2-5) | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 28 |
| Patrick Patterson (LAC) | 135-132 W vs. NYK | 6 | 2-5 (2-5) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Brandon Knight (CLE) | 103-118 L vs. MIN | 5 | 2-8 (1-6) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +8 | 23 |
| Kevin Knox (NYK) | 132-135 L @ LAC | 2 | 1-2 (0-1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -11 | 6 |
| Rajon Rondo (LAL) | 106-99 W vs. DET | 2 | 1-4 (0-1) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 20 |
| Skal Labissiere (POR) | 111-122 L @ MIA | DNP-Knee | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) | 118-103 W @ CLE | DNP-Knee | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
TONIGHT IN THE NBA
7:00: Pacers @ Hornets (Kidd-Gilchrist, Monk, Washington)
7:00: Nets @ Magic
7:00 (NBATV): Thunder (Diallo, Gilgeous-Alexander, Noel) @ 76ers
7:00: Celtics (Kanter) @ Wizards (Wall-out)
7:30: Nuggets (Murray, Vanderbilt) @ Hawks
8:00: Jazz @ Pelicans (Miller-out)
8:30: Bulls @ Mavericks
8:30: Bucks (Bledsoe) @ Spurs (Johnson, Lyles)
10:00 (NBATV): Warriors (Cauley-Stein) @ Kings (Fox, Gabriel)
2 Comments for BBNBA: Booker Pops Off Again, Drops 40 on Memphis
That’s what she said.
So, how exactly did Booker pop off? Saying the team has to play better and finish the home stand strong is just stating facts.