Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker started his second-straight exhibition game for Team USA and recorded three points in a close 92-88 win over Germany in London.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In Team USA’s final exhibition game ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Booker shot a lowly 1-for-6 from the floor, 0-for-2 from deep and had two rebounds, an assist and a block in a team-high 25 minutes. In these 25 minutes, Booker was second on the team with a +5 plus/minus.
This means Booker finished a +50 total plus/minus across the five exhibition games, the best mark on Team USA.
Against Germany, Booker started alongside Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Joel Embiid, the same starting lineup USA used on Saturday against South Sudan and in its first exhibition game against Canada on July 10.
#Suns Devin Booker gets his second-straight start and third overall (out of five games) in Team USA’s final pre-Olympics exhibition game https://t.co/UqXLjgexip
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) July 22, 2024
Kevin Durant was out for his fifth-straight exhibition with a calf strain.
Booker missed two jumpers in the first couple minutes of the game after having a turnover on the first possession of the game. However, he did a good job defensively to start primarily guarding Franz Wagner. Booker’s only other stat of the first quarter was a rebound.
In the second quarter, Booker did not have anymore shot attempts, but did have another rebound, as the U.S. was up 49-41 going to the break.
Entering the fourth, the U.S. trailed by three as Germany came storming back and Booker was still scoreless. With the game tied at 75, Booker stripped Wagner and made a ridiculous left-handed and-one on the fastbreak to put the Americans back up 3.
Ridiculous left-handed and-one by Devin Booker! #USABMNT
pic.twitter.com/e7gjuGM9Pf— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) July 22, 2024
With Booker still on the floor the remainder of the game, James scored Team USA’s last 11 points, part of his game-high 20, to give the Americans the 92-88 victory and a perfect 5-0 record in exhibition play.
These were Booker’s statlines across the five exhibition games:
- July 10 in 86-72 win over Canada (start): 9 PTS (4-6 FG, 1-2 3PT), 2 REB, 2 AST, 1 TOV, +1 in 20 MIN
- July 15 in 98-92 win over Australia: 16 PTS (4-7 FG, 1-4 3PT, 7-7 FT), 3 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1 TOV, +9 in 18 MIN
- July 17 in 105-79 win over Serbia: 3 PTS (1-3 FG, 1-2 3PT), 1 AST, +21 in 16 MIN
- July 20 in 101-100 win over South Sudan (start): 5 PTS (2-5 FG, 1-2 3PT), 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, +14 in 21 MIN
- July 22 in 92-88 win over Germany (start): 3 PTS (1-6 FG, 0-2 3PT), 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK, +5 in 25 MIN
In total, Booker averaged 7.2 points on 44.4% shooting in 20 minutes per game across these five contests.
Team USA will have six days off until its first Olympic game on July 28 against Serbia at 8:15 a.m. MST.
Team USA survives massive upset scare, defeats South Sudan 101-100
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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
