PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Devin Booker’s playoff struggles continued as the Phoenix Suns were swept by the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, ending their season Monday night with a 10th consecutive playoff loss.
The guard was the team’s third-leading scorer in the series, averaging 21.3 points per game — his lowest mark in 10 career playoff series. Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green both poured in more points over the four games and took 20 and 22 more shots than Booker, respectively.
After the game, the critiques started to roll in. Some said Booker is slowing down in general, doesn’t create the same separation on the mid-range jumpers and he doesn’t have the same burst to the rim.
Elimination game woes deepen
At halftime of Monday’s elimination game, Booker was 0-for-3 on field-goal attempts and had five turnovers. But the Thunder’s defense is historically special.
“You got to give them credit. You know, there’s three all defensive guys over there that they keep in rotation and seems like the game plan is, you know, don’t let me get any touches at any time,” Booker said. “You know, so still trying to be aggressive and find spots, but you know, if somebody’s locked on to me and it’s opening up another opportunity for a teammate, the quicker we can exploit that and get that advantage, I think that can sag off a little bit and open up more opportunities for me.”
Booker came alive in the third quarter while the outcome was still in doubt, but it marked another disappointing elimination game performance.
He is now 1-5 in elimination games. The only win came a week and a half ago in the play-in finale against the Golden State Warriors.
Booker scored 49 points against the Timberwolves in an elimination game loss in 2024. That’s when the Suns got swept by Minnesota.
In the other five do-or-die contests, he has averaged just 17 points and is 2-for-24 on three-point attempts.
Booker denied he was dealing with an injury after Monday’s game. But if we learn later that something was slowing him down in the postseason, it wouldn’t be the first time.
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