Devin Booker postgame press conference after the Phoenix Suns (14-12) come back to beat the Washington Wizards (4-21) 112-108
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Tonight was a must-win game for a struggling Phoenix Suns team going against a 4-21 team in the Washington Wizards to conclude a five-game homestand for the Suns.
The Suns entered tonight having on a two-game losing streak and having six of their last eight. Things did not appear to be looking up for them early in this game.
Washington was in control pretty much the entire night until the end of the third quarter, once leading by as much as 16.
So how did the Suns, who have struggled mightily in the fourth quarter this season, get turned around?
“Devin Booker,” Suns’ coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s an assassin. Even if things are not going his way, knowing no one ever really loses confidence in what he can do and we knew that was his time to take over the game. The great ones, they possess that; they possess that short-term memory when things haven’t gone their way, they know their game and can turn up when needed.”
Booker, who started 1-of-7 from three and had three turnovers through three quarters, got the Suns organized and gave them the momentum they needed in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve been here before,” Booker said. “I’m in year nine, I’ve seen a lot of situations. I’ve been through funks before, and I always figured out when it’s time to do what we got to do.”
He finished with 11 points and three assists and was a +12 in the final frame alone.
On the night, he had 27 points, eight assists and four rebounds on 10-of-24 shooting from the field and 3-of-11 on threes.
“Making or missing shots, that’s what it comes down to,” Booker said. “That’s part of the game. Obviously, I get frustrated because I want to make every shot that I take. But when you miss, you just got to keep playing.”
Despite the victory, Booker recognizes that the Suns have a lot to work on moving forward.
“Just have to keep coming in, keep working, keep talking to each other,” Booker said. “Don’t get over frustrated about it but definitely feel it. You want to protect homecourt and New York came in here and kicked our ass on our homecourt. We were on our way to that after the first two quarters of tonight. We just have to get it together.”
The Suns next play the Trail Blazers (6-19) on the road Tuesday night.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
