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Suns

After missing seven consecutive games with hamstring injury, Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker will return tonight at home against Charlotte, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1472698970174541827" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Booker injured his hamstring vs. the Warriors weeks ago and is now set to return to the lineup. Phoenix has gone 6-2 since Booker went down with the injury.

According to The Athletic, Devin Booker will return from a hamstring injury tonight vs. the Hornets.

Devin Booker (hamstring) will return tonight vs. Charlotte

As I just reported on NBA Today with host @malika_andrews: Suns star Devin Booker is expected to miss a few games with his left hamstring injury, per sources.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1466141609603518468" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter)</a>
ANALYSIS: Wojnarowski went on to report the injury is considered minor, but the Suns plan to err on side of caution with a long way to go for a team with title hopes. The Suns are currently on a 17-game winning streak and sit atop the Western Conference standings after taking down the Warriors on Tuesday night.

According to ESPN, Suns star Devin Booker (hamstring) is expected to miss multiple games, but the injury is considered 'minor'.

Devin Booker (hamstring) expected to miss multiple games

PHOENIX (AP) &mdash; Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker injured his left hamstring on Tuesday night and he didn't return to the game against the Golden State Warriors.
The 25-year-old Booker has appeared in every game this season, averaging nearly 24 points per game. It was unclear when the two-time All-Star got hurt, but he went to the locker room in the second quarter.
Booker had 10 points and two rebounds before his injury. The Suns had a 56-54 halftime lead, and managed to win without Booker, 104-96. Phoenix has now won 17 straight games.

Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker injured his left hamstring on Tuesday night and he didn't return against the Warriors.

Suns' Devin Booker leaves game with hamstring injury

The NBA announced the Suns guard Devin Booker and Cavaliers guard Darius Garland have been named Players of the Week for Week 13.
Here is the official release from the league office:
"Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland have been named the NBA Players of the Week for Week 13 of the 2021-22 season.
Phoenix&rsquo;s go-to guy (Devin Booker) helped the Suns to a 3-0 week with averages of 27.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists. His best performance of the week came against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 14 when he logged 35 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block in a 112-94 win. The Suns (33-9) are currently the No. 1 seed in the West standings.
Cleveland&rsquo;s young point guard (Darius Garland) was big in Week 13, averaging 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 12.8 assists as the Cavs went 4-0. He dropped 35 points on the Spurs on Jan. 14 and had a triple-double two nights earlier, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists vs. Utah. In addition, Garland tallied a career-high 18 assists on Saturday night. The Cavs (26-18) are currently the No. 6 seed in the East standings."
&nbsp;

Devin Booker and Darius Garland have been named Players of the Week for Week 13.

Devin Booker, Darius Garland named Players of the Week

<a href="https://twitter.com/Suns/status/1356393507703820289" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Phoenix Suns announced</a> that All-Star guard Devin Booker will make his return to the lineup tonight against the Dallas Mavericks after missing the team's previous four games with a hamstring injury. Booker, who originally injured his hamstring in an overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 22., had been deemed 'questionable' for the team's previous two games before being ruled out shortly before tip-off. 
The Suns put up a respectable 2-2 record in the four games without their best player and will look to make it two in a row over Dallas after beating them Saturday, 111-105.&nbsp;

Suns' Devin Booker is set to return to the court tonight after missing the team's previous four games.

Devin Booker (hamstring) to return to lineup for Suns

Devin Booker had 16 points in his return to Phoenix's lineup and the NBA-leading Suns set a season-scoring high in a 137-106 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
After missing seven games because of a hamstring injury, Booker played 26 minutes, and sat out the fourth quarter with Phoenix well ahead. The Suns improved to 24-5, moving a half-game ahead of Golden State.
Phoenix had nine players score in double figures. Javale McGee had 19 points in 16 minutes off the bench, and Mikal Bridges also scored 16 points. Deandre Ayton had 15 points and 15 rebounds. Landry Shamet also scored 15 points, Jae Crowder and Chris Paul had 14 each, Cam Johnson 12 and Cameron Payne 11.
Phoenix was 20 of 41 on 3-pointers and shot 56.8% overall.
Miles Bridges had 26 points for Charlotte, and former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16. LaMelo Ball had nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but was 2 of 12 from the field and 1 of 6 from behind the arc.
The Suns never trailed, leading 37-15 after the first quarter and by 36 in the third. In the opening period, Ayton had nine points and nine rebounds and Mikal Bridges scored eight points. Phoenix shot 56% from the floor and was 6 of 10 from 3-point range.
Charlotte made just six shots in the quarter, shooting 21%. The Hornets converted just 1 of 11 3-point tries. Ball was scoreless on six shots in the quarter.
Phoenix, which has won 14 straight at home after losing its first two, scored a season-high 39 points in the third quarter. They had scored 37 in two previous games.
Miles Bridges had 26 points for Charlotte, and former Sun Kelly Oubre Jr. had 16. LaMelo Ball had nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but was just 2 of 12 from the field and 1 of 6 from behind the arc. Ball was scoreless on six shots in the first quarter.
COVID CONCERNS
Hornets forard Cody Martin was placed in the NBA&rsquo;s health and safety protocol on Sunday, but there were no other players affected. Three games were postponed league-wide Sunday.
&ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s trying to do their best,&rdquo; Suns coach Monty Williams said. &ldquo;We want to coach and play but we&rsquo;re all dealing with it. It&rsquo;s affecting everybody. Every time you hit refresh there&rsquo;s a new person in the protocol. It&rsquo;s unfortunate but we&rsquo;ve dealt with it also.&rdquo;
The game was played with two game officials. Zach Zerba and Eric Dalen, originally scheduled, were held out of the game. Brent Barnaky, the other scheduled referee, was joined by NBA referee Bill Kennedy, who lives in the Phoenix area.
COACHING COHORTS
Williams and Charlotte&rsquo;s James Borrego worked together as assistants with San Antonio, and Borrego was on Williams&rsquo; staff in New Orleans.
&ldquo;I learned a lot from Monty," Borrego said. "He&rsquo;s a great leader, a great man. I&rsquo;m thrilled for him where he has his program.&rdquo;
As for Williams, he thinks Borrego doesn&rsquo;t get enough credit for Charlotte playing much better this season.
"You don&rsquo;t hear him being talked about as much as he should be.&rdquo; Williams said
NEXT
Hornets: At Utah on Monday night.
Suns: Art Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.

Devin Booker had 16 points in his return to Phoenix's lineup and the NBA-leading Suns set a season-scoring high in a 137-106 victory.

Devin Booker returns, NBA-leading Suns rout Hornets 137-106

During Monday's shoot-around in Milwaukee in preparation for Game 6 between the Suns-Bucks, guard Devin Booker was asked by ESPN's Richard Jefferson on how he felt about the Kobe Bryant comparisons he was receiving.
Here is Booker's full response:
&ldquo;Yeah, I haven&rsquo;t really thought about it much. I know it&rsquo;s something that everybody has going on right now. I didn&rsquo;t make that comparison myself, and I just leave it at what he&rsquo;s done for me as a mentor and the advice that he&rsquo;s left me with. So I try to take bits and pieces of his mentality and his approach, but I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
"I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant." &mdash;Devin Booker <a href="https://t.co/hcXFSPLScm">pic.twitter.com/hcXFSPLScm</a>
&mdash; NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1417219186938548231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Booker has certainly played with the 'Mamba Mentality' throughout his first postseason, averaging 27.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in over 40 minutes per game. But the Suns find themselves on the brink of elimination and face a must win situation Tuesday night in Milwaukee. And while Booker will try to elevate his game even more to force a Game 7, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to clinch their first title in 50 years on their home court tomorrow night.
Tip off is 9 PM ET on ABC.

Devin Booker says he doesn't like the Kobe Bryant comparisons, saying he 'should never be compared to Kobe Bryant'.

Devin Booker: 'I should never be compared to Kobe Bryant'

Devin Booker was the hero on Monday night, with his game-winning three sending the Phoenix Suns to a 109-108 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. But Booker is just as excited about the rapport he is building with backcourt mate Chris Paul.
"Iron sharpens iron,&rdquo; Booker <a href="https://arizonasports.com/story/2526782/devin-bookers-shot-chris-pauls-excellence-steal-suns-a-win-in-dallas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said after Monday's win</a>. &ldquo;We both hold each other accountable. We both have that similar approach where we want to win at all costs. We&rsquo;re not worried about hurting anybody&rsquo;s feelings -- on our team or the other team."&nbsp;
When the Suns traded for Paul in the 2020 offseason, everyone knew they had gained a star player who fit well next to Booker on paper. But already, the two have pushed each other and the Suns to one of the more promising starts in recent years.
Booker returned from a hamstring injury and scored 24 points in the victory over Dallas, while Paul had 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going out there to win basketball games and whatever it takes to do that. I&rsquo;m learning from him every day," Booker added. "He&rsquo;s been in every situation that I want to get to. I have the cheat code of being alongside him, his backcourt mate. From on the court to off the court, just everything he does &mdash; I&rsquo;m a sponge to it.&rdquo;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s nice playing alongside a guy who pushes you,&rdquo;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1356456138930180096" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paul said to NBATV</a>. &ldquo;I trust him, he trusts me. When I&rsquo;m passing up shots, he on my head, &lsquo;Shoot that, C! Shoot that, C!'&rdquo;
CP3 has been known as one of the better defensive point guards in basketball throughout his career. Paul has carried that pedigree to Phoenix, who now has the fifth-best defensive rating in the league. Two-way wing <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-mikal-bridges-phoenix-suns-breakout-season-three-point-shooting-pick-and-roll-defense-deandre-ayton-turnover-percentage-monty-williams-chris-paul-villanova-jay-wright-ashley-howard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mikal Bridges has also been wreaking havoc on opponents</a>.
Between their efforts and improvements from Booker and Deandre Ayton, the Suns sit at 11-8 and have entrenched themselves as playoff contenders.

Booker nailed the game-winning shot in the Suns' win over Dallas on Monday.

Devin Booker on playing with Chris Paul: 'Iron sharpens iron'

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker will miss time to start training camp this upcoming week due to health and safety protocols.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1442203174786543618" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania/The Athletic</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;It is unclear how much time Booker could miss, or if this designation is due to a positive COVID-19 test or another reason. The Suns star helped lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals last season.

The Suns star helped lead Phoenix to the NBA Finals last season.

Devin Booker to miss time due to health and safety protocols

It's a shame that these NBA playoffs aren't in glitzy cities.
It's a shame that LeBron James isn't fighting for a chance at his fifth career title.
It's a shame that this league is so predictable.
Actually, it's a shame that you're not witnessing the birth of young, rising stars before your very eyes.
There may not be a soul left to question what Trae Young is bringing to the table in his debut playoff run, nor one to tear down Devin Booker with the all-so-familiar-and-overused label of "just a scorer."
Instead, these two now-household names are not only demanding your attention, they're seizing it.
Young played in his in first Eastern Conference Finals game on Wednesday night on the road, and took hold of the game when it mattered most. He had multi-time All-Defensive Team member Jrue Holiday on his heels, as well as anybody who dared guard him on the perimeter.
If the Milwaukee Bucks switched on him, it didn't matter. He'd blow right past his man for a floater, or a lob, or an alley-oop off the backboard. Hell, he's even taking pull-up mid-rangers now. If they had to defend him off a high screen, he'd make one dribble move and fire, or he'd have enough time to do a shimmy and can a triple as the Bucks helplessly stared, too late to contest. And if Milwaukee elected to trap him toward mid-court, he'd pinpoint a teammate on the perimeter and get it to him with a behind-the-back pass.
Since the semifinal round started, in pick-and-roll situations as a ball-handler, Young has scored 1.31 points per possession on floaters and 1.28 points per possession on jumpers. In a more traditional sense, Young has averaged 30.5 points and 10.5 assists on 42.2% from the field. He's getting to the free-throw line over nine times per contest, and is making 87.3% of his attempts. He has not been afraid to shoot, either, taking the fifth-most shots on average (23.3) in the NBA this postseason.
If you're looking for a fun little storyline to follow, try this one on for size. In series openers, Young is averaging 38.3 points per game on 48.5% shooting, to go along with 10.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds. He is 28-for-30 on free throws in total. That is what you call setting the tone, with all three of those matchups coming on the road. We may as well call Trae "Mr. Game 1" at this point. His career's just getting started and he's getting F-bombs hurled his way from opposing audiences left and right. When was the last time that the underdog was also the villain?
In the Western Conference, there's Booker, who has willed the Phoenix Suns to a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers without Chris Paul. Another player who's not afraid of the moment, yet is seeing his first postseason action in the sixth season of his career, Booker is turning the corner and making defenders pay probably more than anybody else in the NBA.
Seriously, once he's gotten a pick above the break or a handoff, that man has gotten to his spot every single time. Guys are staying in front of him pretty well, but it has not mattered. The minute that Booker has put the ball on the floor, he's found either corner of the key or the nail; at that point, there's nothing more teams can do besides contest. And even when defenders do get a hand up, he has so much elevation on his jumper to the point where it hasn't fazed him.
From the start of the second round and on, here's Booker's contested jump shot chart, <a href="https://basketball.instatscout.com/players/5278/fieldgoals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">courtesy of InStat</a>:
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/field-goals-devin-booker-1_lg.png" alt="" width="499" height="316" />
And here's an illustration of how effective Booker's jumpers have been in any playtype.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 99.4658%; height: 236px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Playtype (Total No. of Poss)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Jumper Possessions</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; height: 23px; text-align: center;">Points Per Possession</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Pick-and-Roll Handler (42)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">33</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">1.36</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Isolation (27)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">19</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">1.05</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Catch-and-Drive (13)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">11</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">1.82</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Transition (21)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">1.11</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 23px;">
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">Off Screens (14)</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">9</td>
<td style="width: 31.473%; text-align: center; height: 23px;">1.11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Get the picture?
As he's dragging his assignments with him, Booker is opening things up for others to thrive, as well. Maybe the savviest development in his game is his passing; however, it's his patience that has the Suns humming. When he's found himself in a double team or in a crowd, there's no sense of panic whatsoever. Booker is wisely waiting for his teammates to cut, go for a lob or locate themselves for a look on the perimeter. None of this would be possible if he couldn't make the reads as sharply as he has. The thing is, though, he's processing all of this so quickly, while maintaining a solid pace and timely decision-making simultaneously.
Booker's efficiency is at an all-time high, unafraid to take the big shots, yet possessing the balance necessary to be the well-rounded player he has become over the course of his development. His averages in the postseason speak for themselves: 28.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists on 47.9% shooting. Not to mention that bouncing the defending NBA champions and the league's MVP in the first two rounds of your playoff career is a pretty loud way to say, "I'm here."
But that's how Young and Booker operate. They've got their own styles and ways to dissect and frustrate their opponents, all while putting on a show for the neutral audiences at home to enjoy, and both find themselves in position to make something really special happen for their respective teams.
Forget about the market they play in.
Forget about The King sitting at home.
Forget about a predetermined winner.
We're witnessing the next generation of superstardom blossom in the postseason, and judging by the latest returns on television ratings and social engagement, people are noticing.
As they should.

Spencer Davies raves over the rise of Trae Young and Devin Booker in the postseason as two blossoming superstars in the NBA.

The fearlessness of Trae Young and Devin Booker is on display

Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum have earned NBA Player of the Week honors for Week 19 of the season.
Booker averaged 29.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game across a perfect 4-0 week for the Phoenix Suns. That included wins over three probably playoff squads in the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder. Booker scored 31 points against the Jazz to help move Phoenix into a tie for first place in the Western Conference standings.
On the Eastern Conference side, Jayson Tatum tied a franchise scoring record with his 60-point performance for the Boston Celtics against the San Antonio Spurs. Tatum averaged 42.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while the Celtics went 2-2 in the week. He also tied Klay Thompson for the second-most points in a single game without logging a turnover.&nbsp;

Booker and Tatum reaffirmed their places as two of the league's young stars.

Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum earn NBA Player of the Week honors

Mike Conley previously held the title of the best active player to not make an All-Star game, but it looks like that will be no more. On Friday night, the NBA announced that would be no more. Conley will be replacing Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in both the All-Star game on Sunday night as well as the 3-Point Contest.
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Phoenix&rsquo;s Devin Booker has been replaced by Utah&rsquo;s Mike Conley Jr. in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. Conley will also participate in the 3-point contest.
&mdash; Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1368011153083830274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Booker will be missing the festivities due to a left knee sprain.
The Athletic was the first to report the news.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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BREAKING: Mike Conley pending medical protocol is invited to the all-star game, league sources tell The Athletic
&mdash; Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tjonesonthenba/status/1368001812792451076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Conley makes his first All-Star game in his 14th season.

Mike Conley invited to first All-Star game replacing Devin Booker

Kyrie Irving's <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/kyrie-irving-nba-logo-should-be-changed-to-kobe-bryant-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal that the NBA change its logo</a> to an image of Kobe Bryant has sparked a conversation across the basketball community.
On Saturday, Devin Booker and Doc Rivers each shared their stances on the idea.
Booker, one of the league's young stars for the Phoenix Suns, <a href="https://twitter.com/ValleyoftheSuns/status/1365785342859616257" target="_blank" rel="noopener">is all for the logo change</a>. He said of Bryant, "I love it. He built this game... I know he's inspired a lot more people than me and Kyrie."
Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers, however, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wCoTANibEo&amp;feature=youtu.be">took a different viewpoint on Friday</a>. He has no problem with Jerry West remaining a logo, but if there were to be a change, he would pick Michael Jordan.
&ldquo;I have been asked that but I don&rsquo;t know the answer to that,&rdquo; Rivers said during an interview. &ldquo;I mean Michael Jordan would be the logo. Listen, if you want a logo, Michael to me, would be it. But I don&rsquo;t know if you change for change,&rdquo; he further explained.
&ldquo;You usually change things because of history and you find something out that doesn&rsquo;t fit. Jerry has been a deserving logo and I have no problem him continuing to be the logo. I mean what are we going to do, change the logo every 10 or 20 years? So, I like our logo and I think we should probably stick with it. I am probably in the minority in that thought.&rdquo;

Booker loves the idea of a Kobe Bryant logo, while Rivers disagreed.

Devin Booker, Doc Rivers comment on Kobe Bryant NBA logo suggestion

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker and Detroit Pistons rookie Saddiq Bey have been named the NBA Players of the Week for Week 8.
Devin Booker put together an outstanding week for the Suns, averaging 32.3 ppg on 56.3% shooting from the field and 47.6% from behind the arc. Booker also averaged 5.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, leading the Suns to a 4-0 week.
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Devin Booker needs to chill. Hitting from the logo. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SportsCenter</a>) <a href="https://t.co/UQOpijuAZL">pic.twitter.com/UQOpijuAZL</a>
&mdash; SLAM (@SLAMonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/1360716147260284930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Saddiq Bey, the Pistons rookie out of Villanova, had a solid week for Detroit as well, leading them to a 3-1 record last week. Bey had averages of 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, which included a career-high performance of 30 points and 12 rebounds in Detroit's upset win over the Celtics.
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30 points. 7-7 from deep. Both career highs. Saddiq Bey. Locked in. <a href="https://t.co/hAoKxLLj9s">pic.twitter.com/hAoKxLLj9s</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1360430746050195457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Here were the other nominees for Player of the Week in each conference.
West: Carmelo Anthony and Damian Lillard (POR), Malik Beasley (MIN), Luka Dončić (DAL), Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams (LAC) and Donovan Mitchell (UTA)
East: Bradley Beal (WAS), Jimmy Butler (MIA), Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons (PHI), Julius Randle (NYK), Terry Rozier (CHA) and Nikola Vučević (ORL)

The NBA has named Suns' Devin Booker and Pistons' Saddiq Bey Players of the Week for week 8.

Devin Booker, Saddiq Bey earn NBA Player of the Week honors

Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Phoenix Suns overcame Chris Paul's absence to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-114 on Sunday in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Paul sat out because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard missed his third straight game because of a sprained right knee.
Tied at 93 to start the fourth, the Suns went on a 12-2 run and pulled ahead 105-95 on Cam Johnson's dunk with 8:08 remaining. The Clippers wouldn't go away, though, cutting a 10-point deficit in the final two minutes to 116-114 when Terance Mann hit a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left.
Booker scored on a dunk on the next possession to seal Phoenix's seventh straight victory, getting a free lane to the basket on the blown defensive coverage.
Game 2 is on Tuesday night in Phoenix.
Booker was productive and efficient in one of his best games of his career. He shot 15 of 29 from the field, carving apart a defense that had to play just 36 hours after closing out the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
The third quarter featured a stellar scoring duel between Booker and L.A.'s Paul George, who finished with 34 points. Booker scored 18 points in the quarter, and George had 15, including a 3-pointer that tied it at 93 heading to the fourth.
The Suns led 76-68 midway through the third but George scored eight straight points &mdash; including six points on two long 3-pointers &mdash; to tie it up. It was the start of a 16-2 run that helped Los Angeles take an 84-78 lead.
Booker and the Suns responded quickly. Booker scored 12 points &mdash; mostly on mid-range jumpers &mdash; in the final 3:09 of the third to get Phoenix back on track.
Deandre Ayton had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Suns. Cameron Payne started for Paul and had 11 points and nine assists.
Reggie Jackson added 24 points for the Clippers.
The game was a rare stage for both franchises: The Clippers are in the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history, while the Suns haven&rsquo;t been this far in 11 years and have never won an NBA title.
BIG-TIME BOOGIE
The Clippers got a boost from veteran big man DeMarcus Cousins in the second quarter. He came into the game and almost immediately threw down a monster dunk over Dario Saric. He scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting in his first five minutes on the court.
The talented but oft-injured Cousins has only played in two playoff games this season. The four-time All-Star averaged 7.8 points in 16 regular season games with the Clippers this season.
AWARD-WINNING GM
Suns general manager James Jones was named the NBA's Executive of the Year on Sunday. Team President Robert Sarver surprised Jones with the announcement in a short ceremony at midcourt a few minutes before tipoff.
Jones came to the team two years ago and has helped build the Valley's best team in 11 seasons. His big move was adding Paul during the offeseason but he's also made other key moves, like adding Payne, Torrey Craig and drafting Cameron Johnson.
He got a big ovation from the sellout crowd of 16,583.
The low-key Jones was a man of few words when handed the microphone by Sarver, thanking the crowd and then adding one sentence.
&ldquo;All I can say is &rdquo;Go Suns, let's win," Jones said.
TIP-INS
Clippers: Leonard and forward Serge Ibaka (back surgery) didn't play. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said on Saturday that Leonard was getting treatment on his knee in Los Angeles and wasn't sure about his availability in Game 2.
Suns: Paul and forward Abdel Nader (right knee arthroscopy) didn't play. Suns coach Monty Williams said Paul's situation is &ldquo;day-to-day.&rdquo;
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Devin Booker had 40 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Suns overcame Chris Paul's absence to beat the Clippers.

Devin Booker gets first playoff triple-double, Suns beat Clippers 120-114

Devin Booker scored 22 of his 47 points in a phenomenal first quarter, and the Phoenix Suns won their first playoff series since 2010, eliminating the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers with a 113-100 victory in Game 6 on Thursday night.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Devin Booker was on a mission tonight 😤 His <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> career-high 47 points, 11 rebounds and 64.7 fantasy points pushes the <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Suns</a> past the Lakers and onto the Western Conference Semifinals! <a href="https://t.co/cgewe15OI9">pic.twitter.com/cgewe15OI9</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1400683694474633217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Jae Crowder scored 18 points for the second-seeded Suns, who won three consecutive games to send LeBron James to a first-round series loss for the first time in his 18-year NBA career.
Phoenix will meet Denver in the second round. Game 1 is Monday in Phoenix.
Chris Paul had eight points and 12 assists for the Suns, who jumped to a huge early advantage in the opening minutes of Game 6 while Anthony Davis struggled and eventually left due to his groin injury.
Although the Suns lost much of their early 29-point lead, they patiently held off the Lakers and James, who had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Booker and Paul stayed strong in the fourth quarter, and Phoenix ended a decade of hoops frustration in the Valley of the Sun with the clinching victory of Booker's first career playoff series.
Davis returned to the Lakers' starting lineup after missing the second half of Game 4 and all of Game 5, but the eight-time All-Star played less than 5 1/2 minutes before being sidelined again by his groin injury.
Booker and the Suns surged to a 29-point lead in the first half, but the Lakers trimmed it to 10 midway through the fourth quarter. Paul, Mikal Bridges and Crowder all hit big shots down the stretch to make sure the lead never went to single digits.
Dennis Schr&ouml;der scored 20 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 19 for the Lakers, who won&rsquo;t get to properly celebrate a title in front of their wild home fans this summer after last October&rsquo;s sterile victory in the Florida bubble. The Lakers were 21-6 before they lost Davis and then James to long-term injuries starting on Valentine&rsquo;s Day, and the champs never regained their best form.
Even with a healthy Davis, the Lakers would have hard-pressed to keep up on Booker's latest evening of brilliance.
Booker hit all six of his 3-point attempts and went 8 for 9 overall while the Suns took a 36-14 lead after one quarter. The six-year veteran showed none of the shakiness from earlier in the series against the Lakers, shredding the NBA&rsquo;s best defensive team with his silky-smooth jumper and heady penetration.
While Paul played through a persistent shoulder problem, injuries were insurmountable for Los Angeles, which had a 2-1 series lead on Phoenix when Davis injured his groin midway through Game 4 and subsequently missed Game 5.
Caldwell-Pope played well after missing most of the past two games with a bruised knee, but the Lakers also lost backup guard Alex Caruso to a left ankle injury midway through Game 6.
James had been 14-0 in first-round series during his career, which includes four championships. Only Lakers greats Derek Fisher and Robert Horry ever had more first-round perfection in NBA history, with both going 16-0.
With the resurgence of the injury problems that forced the Lakers down to the seventh seed in the West, they couldn't recover against the Suns and Booker, who rose to lead Phoenix to its decisive wins.
Booker, who scored 30 points in Game 5, got help in the first quarter of Game 6 from three of Crowder's six 3-pointers. Phoenix took a 21-point lead to halftime, but the Lakers trimmed it to only 13 heading to the fourth quarter with big efforts from James, Schr&ouml;der and Wesley Matthews, who combined for 27 points.
TIP-INS
Suns: Crowder and Torrey Craig got technical fouls during a sequence that included a flagrant foul on Caldwell-Pope. Crowder was then ejected with 30.6 seconds left for a second T, and he sprinted to the locker room. Booker also got a final-minute technical.
Lakers: They didn&rsquo;t face an elimination game during their title run last year. ... Schr&ouml;der gave a much-improved effort after going scoreless in Game 5. The German guard is an unrestricted free agent this summer.
SENSING A THEME HERE
The Lakers are the third conference finalist from the 2020 postseason to be eliminated in the first round this year, joining Miami and Boston. All four finalists endured significant injury problems this season after a radically truncated offseason, but the Nuggets held off Portland in six games earlier Thursday to advance despite losing Jamal Murray to a knee injury in April.
ROAD WARRIORS
The NBA&rsquo;s best road team in the regular season won two straight at Staples Center, taking Game 4 after Davis went down at halftime with a groin injury.
Phoenix has won five consecutive closeout games in best-of-seven playoff series &mdash; although the Suns hadn&rsquo;t closed out anybody since San Antonio in the 2010 Western Conference semifinals before Kobe Bryant and the Lakers beat them in the conference finals.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Devin Booker scored 22 of his 47 points in a phenomenal first quarter, and the Suns won their first playoff series since 2010.

Devin Booker scores 47, Suns eliminate LeBron and champion Lakers, 113-100

Devin Booker made a free throw with 0.3 seconds left after getting fouled on a jump shot to give the Phoenix Suns a 128-127 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.
After Khris Middleton had tied the game on a 3-pointer with 22.1 seconds left, Jae Crowder inbounded a pass to Booker, who attempted to get free for a shot while getting hounded by Jrue Holiday.
<a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportSAZ/status/1384335836091723779">As Booker finally put up a shot</a> from in front of Phoenix&rsquo;s bench just before the buzzer, P.J. Tucker also approached him. Tucker was called for the foul.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Foul...Game! <a href="https://t.co/L5UeYOvlhd">pic.twitter.com/L5UeYOvlhd</a>
&mdash; Bally Sports Arizona (@BallySportSAZ) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportSAZ/status/1384335836091723779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Booker made the first free throw for his 24th point of the night amid a chorus of boos from the Milwaukee crowd. Booker missed the second shot, but the buzzer went off before the Bucks could put up any kind of shot.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
The <a href="https://twitter.com/Suns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Suns</a> All-Star duo take OVER in the OT dub! 🤩 Book: 24 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST, 3 STL, 53.9 FPTS CP3: 22 PTS, 7 REB, 13 AST, 50.9 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/XIMJSfPECX">pic.twitter.com/XIMJSfPECX</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1384338561793671175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Chris Paul had 22 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds for the Suns, who were opening a five-game trip in which they play five of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference standings.
Paul increased his career assist total to 10,145 to overtake Magic Johnson (10,141) for fifth place in NBA history.
Mikal Bridges had 21 points and DeAndre Ayton scored 20 to help the Suns rally from a nine-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, Middleton 26 and Holiday 25 for the Bucks, who have lost five straight home games.
The Suns scored the first six points in overtime, but the Bucks tied it with 1:17 left thanks to 3-pointers from Pat Connaughton and Tucker.
Paul and Middleton exchanged baskets on the next two possessions. Bridges hit a corner 3-pointer to put Phoenix in front with 25 seconds remaining, but Middleton answered by sinking a 3-pointer from behind the free throw line.
The game featured 24 lead changes and 16 ties. There were 20 lead changes in the first half alone.
TIP-INS
Suns: This game marked Torrey Craig&rsquo;s return to Milwaukee, where he briefly played this season and struggled to carve out a niche. The 6-foot-7 forward has gained more of a role with the Suns, who acquired him from the Bucks for cash on March 18. Craig had five points and five rebounds in 14 minutes.
Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained right toe. He scored nine points in 31 minutes.
UP NEXT
Suns: Visit the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday as they continue this five-game trip. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-joel-embiid-dario-saric-jae-crowder-phoenix-585a906e391f92202569da805c57a68c">The Suns beat the 76ers</a> 120-111 in Phoenix on Feb. 13.
Bucks: Have the first of two straight home matchups with 76ers on Thursday. In their lone previous meeting this season, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-houston-milwaukee-bucks-dj-augustin-giannis-antetokounmpo-ac5b8c37b619f427e871caf13dc12923">Bucks won 109-105 in overtime</a> at Philadelphia on March 17.
___
Follow Steve Megargee at https://twitter.com/stevemegargee
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Booker made a free throw with 0.3 seconds left after getting fouled on a jump shot to give the Phoenix Suns a 128-127 overtime victory.

Devin Booker, Chris Paul help Suns edge Bucks 128-127 in OT

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Booker has earned his second straight NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a team-high 24.7 points (16th in the NBA), 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line in 26 games this season.
Behind Booker and fellow NBA All-Star Chris Paul, Phoenix has posted the league&rsquo;s fourth-best record (20-10) and produced its best start through 30 games of a season since 2007-08. With the selection of Booker and Paul, the Suns have multiple NBA All-Stars in a season for the first time since 2009-10 (Steve Nash and Amar&rsquo;e Stoudemire).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Davis will miss the NBA All-Star Game after sustaining a right calf strain against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 14. He was voted by NBA head coaches as an All-Star reserve, his eighth consecutive All-Star selection. Davis is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.78 blocks in 23 games this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced.&nbsp; Davis and Booker both play for Western Conference teams.
The NBA All-Star Game rosters will be determined through the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and LeBron James of the Lakers will select from the pool of players named starters and reserves in each conference. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the two-round NBA All-Star Draft, Booker will be selected with the All-Star Game reserves in the second round. The starters will be selected in the first round. Davis will be assigned to the same All-Star team that drafts Booker.
The 70th NBA All-Star Game is part of NBA All-Star 2021, which will take place on one night, March 7. TNT&rsquo;s NBA All-Star coverage will begin at 5 p.m. ET with TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by CarMax, followed by the Taco Bell&reg; Skills Challenge and MTN DEW&reg; 3-Point Contest starting at 6:30 p.m. ET. NBA All-Star Game coverage will begin at 8 p.m. ET, with AT&amp;T Slam Dunk taking place at halftime.

Suns guard Devin Booker has been named by Adam Silver to replace injured Anthony Davis in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game.

Devin Booker named NBA All-Star replacement in West for Anthony Davis

Per <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1405959142334947334" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shams Charania and Joe Vardon of The Athletic</a>, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has committed to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. And <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1405990040187113472" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN</a> confirmed that Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker has also committed to join the 12-man Team USA roster for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
ANALYSIS: With this news, Beal and Booker now join Portland's Damian Lillard, Golden State's Draymond Green, and Boston's Jayson Tatum as players who have committed to the Summer Olympics. <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1405974196874747907" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein of The New York Times</a> added that, Phoenix's Chris Paul has been actively pursued this month by USA Basketball for a spot on the Tokyo Olympic team, and USAB officials have also pursued others that are still in the playoffs, and are comfortable that not all of the final 12-man roster would report for training camp on July 6.
So it is likely we will not have a finalized Team USA roster until after the NBA season concludes.

Wizards star Bradley Beal and Suns' Devin Booker have committed to play for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics.

Bradley Beal, Devin Booker commit to play for Team USA in Tokyo Olympics

Devin Booker made two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to give the Phoenix Suns a 118-117 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
Booker&rsquo;s winning foul shots were set up when Portland's Robert Covington was fouled and missed both free throws with 4.4 seconds left, giving the Suns one last chance. Booker was fouled by Norman Powell as he went up for a jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining, and Portland's C.J. McCollum missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer to seal Phoenix&rsquo;s win.
With the victory, Phoenix moved within a game of Utah for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with two games to play.
Chris Paul led Phoenix with 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Mikal Bridges chipped in with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Booker had 18 points but shot just 5 of 17 from the field.
Damian Lillard scored a game-high 41 points on 16-of-23 shooting for Portland, which had its five-game winning streak stopped. McCollum had 27 points.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Damian Lillard dropped 24 points (9-10 FGM) in the 4th quarter tonight 🤯 41 PTS | 5 REB | 5 AST | 54.5 FPTS <a href="https://t.co/CUYUKtlJ8g">pic.twitter.com/CUYUKtlJ8g</a>
&mdash; NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAFantasy/status/1393066891862847489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Trail Blazers, who were playing the second of a back-to-back after beating Utah on Wednesday night, dropped into the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, a half-game back of Dallas with two games to play.
The Suns, who had lost three of four coming in, avoided their first three-game skid of the season.
Phoenix played without center Deandre Ayton, who missed his first game of the season with a sore left knee. Suns coach Monty Williams declined to provide any details about Ayton&rsquo;s injury before the game, saying only that he &ldquo;came in sore today. The Suns started Dario Saric in Ayton&rsquo;s place.
The Suns turned what had been a tight game into an 85-77 lead heading into the fourth quarter, thanks to reserve forward Torrey Craig, who scored 10 points in the final 2:07 of the third quarter. Craig hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark the run.
Backup point guard Cam Payne scored 21 points for the Suns, including 11 in the third quarter.
Portland and Phoenix couldn&rsquo;t get any separation in the first half; there were 16 lead changes and the biggest lead was four points by each team.
TIP-INS
Blazers: Forward Nassir Little was out with back spasms. ... McCollum and Lillard combined for 35 points and eight assists in the first half.
Suns: In addition to Ayton not being available, Phoenix was without forwards Cam Johnson (wrist) and Abdel Nader (knee). ... The Suns need one win to reach the 50-win mark for the first time since the 2009-2010 season.
UP NEXT
Blazers: Return home to host the Nuggets on Sunday
Suns: Travel to face the Spurs on Saturday and Sunday to close the regular season.
___
More AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

With the victory, Phoenix moved within a game of Utah for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with two games to play.

Devin