Kevin Durant had himself a night against the Wizards, dropping 39 points on just 20 shots, but he couldn’t help but be in awe of the bucket-getting displays from Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Phoenix’s Devin Booker.
With Chris Paul sidelined, Booker took the reigns of the Suns’ offense and he simply couldn’t miss, erupting for 51 points on 20-of-25 from the field, including 6-of-7 from the 3-point line, with his ruthless efficiency powering the Suns to a 132-113 win over the Chicago Bulls.
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Durant dubbed Booker’s shooting with a NSFW reaction after he knocked down shot after shot on his way to an 80 percent clip for the night.
Even more impressive, he did it in just three quarters of action, checking out for good before the fourth with just under 31 minutes on court.
Booker is just the second player in the last 25 years to score 50+ points on 80 percent shooting in the first three quarters of a game, joining James Harden (2017) in the record books, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Tonight marked the fourth time in Booker’s career he’s scored 50 or more points, finishing 19 points shy of his career high of 70 points, which came in 2017.
“It felt like a double-sized rim out there,” Booker said postgame. “If I rise up, it’s going in.”
Meanwhile, in Boston, Jayson Tatum delivered a performance fit for a (future) King.
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With Prince William and Princess Kate sitting courtside for their game against the Miami Heat, Tatum put on a show for the Royal Family, with 49 points of his own.
Tatum shot 15-of-25 from the field, 8-of-12 from the 3-point line and 11-of-12 at the free-throw line to lead the Celtics to a 134-121 win, with MVP chants reigning down from the TD Garden crowd in the first quarter.
“That means everything,” Tatum said postgame.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about as a kid, and to hear it in front of our home crowd, in front of the best fans in the world, it holds a special place in my heart.
“Hearing that during the game gives you chills.”
NBA MVP Rankings: Curry, Tatum, Antetokounmpo in tight race through first quarter
Tatum’s performance had him rewriting the record books, becoming the first player in NBA history to hit 900 threes before turning 25, per StatMuse.
He is also the first player in NBA history to record multiple games of 45+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 8+ 3-pointers.
As Durant said, there’s ‘a lot of cookin goin’ on in this league man.’
