Devin Booker Hits Major Milestone Before Injury, Suns Blow Past Lakers with Balanced Attack
Devin Booker didn’t waste any time making history Monday night in Los Angeles. The Suns’ franchise cornerstone entered the game needing just nine points to hit a career milestone-and he got it done in the opening quarter.
Booker, now in his 11th season-all with Phoenix-has been the face of the franchise through highs, lows, and everything in between. Coming into the night, he sat at 16,991 career regular-season points. It took him less than 12 minutes to cross the 17,000-point threshold, finishing the first quarter with 11 points, three assists, and two rebounds.
Unfortunately, that’s all we saw from Booker. A groin injury forced him out for the rest of the game, but the Suns didn’t miss a beat. Phoenix rallied behind a balanced team effort to dominate the Lakers, 125-108, in a statement win on the road.
The game was dead even after one-31-31-but once Booker exited, the Suns seemed to find another gear. Phoenix outscored the Lakers 35-21 in the second quarter and never looked back. That surge turned into a full-on takeover, with the Suns controlling tempo, execution, and energy the rest of the way.
The difference-makers? Ball movement, discipline, and transition play.
Phoenix racked up 35 assists as a team, showing off crisp passing and unselfish play. They kept their mistakes to a minimum with just 11 turnovers, and they capitalized on every opportunity in the open floor, racking up 28 fast break points.
In contrast, the Lakers struggled to find rhythm, managing only 18 assists and coughing up 22 turnovers. They were nearly invisible in transition, scoring just two fast break points all night.
Even with Booker sidelined, the Suns got plenty of production across the board. Five players hit double figures, including Booker’s 11.
Dillon Brooks led the charge with a standout performance, dropping 33 points on 15-of-26 shooting. He added two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. While his three-point stroke wasn’t on point (2-of-7 from deep), Brooks was aggressive, efficient inside the arc, and set the tone with his energy.
Collin Gillespie was right behind him with 28 points and five assists, continuing to make the most of his minutes. Mark Williams chipped in 13 points and six boards, while Jordan Goodwin added 13 points and five assists of his own.
With the win, Phoenix moved to 13-9 on the season, sitting seventh in the Western Conference standings. They hold a 1.5-game edge over Golden State and are 3.5 games clear of Memphis. They’re also neck-and-neck with Minnesota as the middle of the West continues to tighten up.
Up next, the Suns stay on the road for a matchup with the Houston Rockets on December 5. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET.
Whether or not Booker will be ready remains to be seen, but if Monday night was any indication, this Suns squad has the depth and chemistry to hold their own-milestones or not.