Devin Booker currently leads the NBA with the most game-winning buzzer-beaters this season. Excluding the Suns, no other team in the league has made more than the 20-year-old. Between his buzzer-beaters and impressive performances, could the sophomore be the most clutch player in the NBA?
1. January 12, 2017: 28-Point 4th Quarter
Booker Scores 39 vs Mavericks, 28 in 4th Qtr
The Suns were down by 12 heading into the final quarter against the Mavericks. Booker only had 11 points in the first 36 minutes, but after a pair of three-pointers and a steal taken coast-to-coast for the layup, he looked unstoppable.
It turned into a Devin Booker vs. Dallas Mavericks matchup and the deficit was dwindling. No matter what Wesley Matthews tried, Booker couldn’t miss, including a heavily contested three with 14 seconds left to bring the Suns within four. Booker tied his career-high 39 points after reaching the line in the final seconds.
Booker’s fourth quarter stat line: 28 points, 81% shooting, 5-of-6 from the three-point line and a new Suns franchise record for points in a quarter.
2. February 3, 2017: Buzzer-Beater over Kings
Devin Booker Hits Game-Winner at the Buzzer to Defeat Kings
The Suns and Kings were tied up at halftime before Booker caught fire. He scored 15 points in just the third quarter alone. This helped him extend his 20-plus-point streak to 15 games, tying LeBron James for the most consecutive games of this mark by a first- or second-year NBA player since Vince Carter in 1999-00.
The sophomore was not finished yet. He went to the free-throw line with under three minutes remaining, hitting both shots to even the score at 98-98.
P.J. Tucker inbounded the ball to Booker with eight seconds remaining in a tied ballgame. After a few effective fakes, Booker jumped to his right, stepped back and fired for the game. He finished with 33 points and a game-winning buzzer-beater.
3. January 21, 2017: Go-Ahead Three in Final Seconds
Booker Hits Go-Ahead Three-Pointer Over Knicks
The Knicks had the ball and the lead with just under 50 seconds left to play. Eric Bledsoe dribbled the ball up the court, used a Tyson Chandler screen and dished a pass to Booker at the three-point line.
With his team down by just one, Booker fired a shot over Derrick Rose. It was his third three-pointer of the night, his 26th point and the go-ahead bucket in a 107-105 win.
4. November 4, 2016: Overtime And-One for the Lead
Devin Booker Hits Clutch And-One Bucket vs Pelicans
The Pelicans led by two with just under 2:30 remaining in overtime. Booker drove to the basket, tied the game 107-107 and drew the foul.
Booker then knocked down his free-throw to put Phoenix in the lead. The Suns would not trail the Pelicans for the remainder of the game. A T.J. Warren dunk would ultimately give the Suns a 112-111 win.
5. March 11, 2017: Another Game-Winning Buzzer-Beater
Booker Hits Buzzer-Beating Game-Winner Over Mavericks
Devin Booker caught fire in the second half putting up 25 points, but his biggest moment didn’t happen until the clock had just 10 seconds left. The Suns had the ball in a tied game and there wasn’t much of a question who was going to take the shot.
Booker held onto the inbound pass as the seconds ticked away. He then took Wesley Matthews to the top of the key, put on a spin move, faded and launched it. Booker made his second game-winning buzzer-beater of the season. He finished the game with 36 points on 60 percent shooting from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the line.
Not only may Devin Booker be the most clutch player in the league, but the Suns may have the most clutch squad. Phoenix leads the league with four game-winning buzzer-beaters, while the next closest team only has two.