NBA Twitter was stunned by the merciless play of Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker early on in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Game 6 between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers was supposed to be an intense affair. After all, Anthony Davis would be back in the LA lineup to join LeBron James’ fight for their playoff lives.
Devin Booker and the Suns didn’t even let hope bloom for Lakers fans. By the end of the first quarter, the game looked all but over.
That’s because Booker went off.
Devin Booker’s first quarter against the Lakers was a work of art
NBA Twitter wants you to know that numbers for Booker were as historic as they were impressive.
Whew. It has been quite the night for the league's young shooters.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) June 4, 2021
According to @ESPNStatsInfo, Devin Booker's 22 points tie the most in a playoff first quarter over the last 25 seasons.
It ties Denver's Michael Porter Jr. who did it just a few hours ago...
Devin Booker is thinking the second round with the fellas.
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 4, 2021
22 PTS
8-9 FG
6-6 3P
in the 1Q pic.twitter.com/IlplYBMcxt
Seriously, Booker’s stats, real and fake, were just immense.
End of 1st:
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 4, 2021
Devin Booker - 22
Suns - 14
Lakers - 14
Guys calm down. It’s only Booker 22 Lakers 14. This is still a really close game.
— Max (@maxmcc11) June 4, 2021
Devin Booker’s plus minus is +93 right now. Don’t fact check me it’s true.
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 4, 2021
If you’ve ever said Devin Booker is “empty stats” or “not a winner” please don’t ever talk basketball for the rest of your life. EVER.
— Brandon Awadis (@brawadis) June 4, 2021
Comparisons for Booker’s performance were also amazing.
Devin Booker is lighting the Lakers up right now like Kwame Brown’s turn at a Stephen A dunk tank
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) June 4, 2021
Phoenix put a good old beatdown on the Lakers. And it definitely didn’t look like stopping.
Suns are on a 160-103 run over the last 63 minutes.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 4, 2021
The schadenfreude connected to LeBron James and the Lakers was very real.
Damn Devin Booker and the Suns really sending Bron home like this?!? pic.twitter.com/nlliJHlGsG
— Raheel Ramzanali - City Cast Houston Podcast (@The_Raheel) June 4, 2021
Watching Devin Booker cook the Lakers pic.twitter.com/As6ZxdgBuw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 4, 2021
This is Devin Booker’s first taste of the postseason after six seasons with the Suns. He’s not messing around in the slightest.
Devin Booker seems like a guy who’s been waiting a long time to compete in the postseason.
— Shane Dale (@ShaneDaleAZ) June 4, 2021
(If Devin Booker finally hits 7 3-pointers in a his first closeout playoff game, I'd say that'd be worth the aggressively long wait)
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) June 4, 2021
Suns fans have got to be feeling pretty good right now.
Suns fans, how are you feeling right now?
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 4, 2021
Devin Booker being the one to fuel this big lead has to make it feel extra special after watching him grow into a star during those losing years
At halftime, Phoenix held a 21-point lead over Los Angeles on their home floor. It was Booker’s night with 33 points in the first two quarters alone. He was 7-of-8 from 3-point distance.
James managed 14 points, while Anthony Davis’ return from injury was short-lived. The forward started the game, but his lingering knee and groin injuries forced his exit after just five minutes.
The Lakers were down a star early. So were the Suns, earlier in the series, when Chris Paul went down with a shoulder stinger. But with the series on the line, Devin Booker came out to be the best player on the court.