Highlights: Devin Booker Ups Career High with 39 vs. Lakers
Devin Booker continues to etch his name in the NBA record books.
After pouring in a career-high 38 points on Friday night against the Pelicans, the second-year Suns guard turned in quite the encore performance two days later in Los Angeles – scoring 39 on the Lakers.
The back-to-back stellar outings gave Booker the distinction of the youngest player in NBA history to drop at least 38 points in consecutive games (20 years and seven days).
LeBron James didn’t accomplish the feat until he was 20 years and 348 days, while Kobe Bryant was 22 years and 95 days.
However, with the Suns falling 119-108 on Sunday night at the Staples Center, Booker was in no mood to celebrate personal achievements.
“It's about wins and losses," Booker told azcentral. "Maybe later in my career, I can look back on things like that but now I'm in the mindset where I am ready to get wins. Everybody looks good when you win and that's what we are trying to do. Scoring as many points as you want and not making the playoffs is not a good look so my ultimate goal is to make the playoffs."
Booker actually began the game on a cold streak, making just three of his 12 first-half shots. But in the third and fourth quarters, the young guard hit his stride and connected on 10-of-17 attempts from the field. He also made all 10 of his free throws and created for others with seven assists.
“Devin did a great job in that second half of getting guys involved and looking for his own shot," Head Coach Earl Watson said.
Regardless of age, Booker became the first Suns player to score at least 38 points in back-to-back games since Tom Chambers during the 1989-90 season.
Last week, ESPN ranked Booker as the 46th best player in the NBA – quite the accolade for someone so young. But if he continues to play like he did last week, that number might quickly start to look too low.