Devin Booker did something no player in NBA history had ever done before in the Phoenix Suns‘ 132-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at Footprint Center.
Booker scored 51 points while shooting 20-of-25 from the field, 6-of-7 on three-pointers, and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line. He becomes the first player in NBA history to score 50-plus points while shooting at least 80% on field goals, 80% on threes, and 80% on free throws.
Devin Booker of the @Suns is the first player in NBA history to score 50+ points in a game while shooting at least 80% from the field, 80% from three and 80% from the line.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) December 1, 2022
What made the performance even more mind-blowing is that Booker scored those 51 points in just three quarters.
As Bulls beat writer K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago notes, Booker didn’t get his first points until midway through the first quarter. So, Booker essentially scored 51 points in two and a half quarters of basketball.
With Donovan going to subs, it's unlikely Devin Booker returns for Suns. This will make his 51 points even more ridiculous. It came in 3 quarters—and Booker didn't score until midway through 1st.
So basically, 51 points in 2 1/2 quarters on 20-25 FGs
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 1, 2022
Devin Booker didn't score his first points until 5:46 in the 1st quarter. He has 51 before the 4th quarter.
— Josh Frydman (@Josh_Frydman) December 1, 2022
That’s absolutely ridiculous.
ESPN Stats & Info adds another amazing factoid: “Devin Booker attempted the fourth-fewest combined field goals and free throws in a 50-point game in NBA history.”
Devin Booker attempted the fourth-fewest combined field goals and free throws in a 50-point game in NBA history tonight.
Only Jamal Murray (25 vs Cavs in 2021), Stephen Curry (28 vs Rockets in 2016) and Dana Barros (28 vs Magic in 1995) attempted fewer than Booker's 31 tonight. pic.twitter.com/JnSPsPIKdr
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 1, 2022
And NBC Sports Chicago’s Rob Schaefer tweets that Booker “became one of four players in NBA history to score 50+ points in a game with 25 or fewer shot attempts and in 31 or fewer minutes.”
Against the Bulls tonight, Devin Booker became one of four players in NBA history to score 50+ points in a game with 25 or fewer shot attempts and in 31 or fewer minutes
And he did it all in three quarters. Suns didn't need him in the fourth
(via @Stathead) pic.twitter.com/eKFFmGJGj0
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) December 1, 2022
Here’s a look at how the basketball world is reacting to Booker’s insane performance on Wednesday night:
Devin Booker is the 2nd player in Suns franchise history to record 50+ points, 5+ assists, and 5+ 3pt FGM in a game, joining:
Jamal Crawford: 51 points, 5 assists, 7 3pt FGM on 04/09/2019 https://t.co/z3FMamG6Uu pic.twitter.com/8cYv8U1bGM
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) December 1, 2022
The only players in NBA history to score 50+ points on 80% shooting or better:
Wilt Chamberlain
Michael Jordan
Kyrie Irving
Jamal Murray
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Karl Malone
Dana Barros
Adrian Dantley
Bernard King
Devin Booker— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 1, 2022
Devin Booker over his last 2 games:
▪️ 95 points
▪️ 12 rebounds
▪️ 10 assists
▪️ 7 steals pic.twitter.com/sKVRqqUTTH— FanDuel (@FanDuel) December 1, 2022
Devin Booker's scoring by quarter in win over Bulls
Q1: 9p, on 4-6 FG
Q2: 16p, on 6-8 FG
Q3: 26p, on 10-11 FG!
Q4: DNP
Total: 51 points on 80% shooting in only 31 minutes of playBook's last two games:
94 points on 69% shooting, 10 assists, 12 rebounds, 7 steals— Dave King (@DaveKingNBA) December 1, 2022
Bro hit fiddy-one! @DevinBook 🤯
— Cameron Payne (@campayne) December 1, 2022
KD couldn't believe Devin Booker's performance tonight pic.twitter.com/cDsreudCUp
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 1, 2022
