Duane Rankin: “We’ve had some terrible starts and it’s frustrating. We showed we can do the right thing sometimes and then, sometimes we don’t.” Devin Booker after Suns loss to Lakers. “In spots, we show we can do it. That what makes it even more frustrating. We have a game like last game and then we come in and miss a few shots and that affects our defense.” Booker added: If you’re playing with energy and effort, you can sleep well at night regardless and I don’t think we’re doing that right now.” #Suns #LakeShow pic.x.com/VlplhjB7Pq
Source: Twitter @DuaneRankin
Source: Twitter @DuaneRankin
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Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
UPDATED: Devin Booker critical of Phoenix Suns after loss to Lakers minus LeBron. What we learned (w/videos) #Suns #LakeShow azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 8:48 PM
UPDATED: Devin Booker critical of Phoenix Suns after loss to Lakers minus LeBron. What we learned (w/videos) #Suns #LakeShow azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 8:48 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Mike Budenholzer on Devin Booker, who took just one shot in the 3rd quarter of Suns loss.
“I think he’s been playmaking. Friday night (13 assists), again tonight (11 assists). I feel like he’s getting to some spots and creating some great looks for us. Offensively, I think we – 8:19 PM
Mike Budenholzer on Devin Booker, who took just one shot in the 3rd quarter of Suns loss.
“I think he’s been playmaking. Friday night (13 assists), again tonight (11 assists). I feel like he’s getting to some spots and creating some great looks for us. Offensively, I think we – 8:19 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“We’ve had some terrible starts and it’s frustrating. We showed we can do the right thing sometimes and then, sometimes we don’t.”
Devin Booker after Suns loss to Lakers.
“In spots, we show we can do it. That what makes it even more frustrating. We have a game like last game pic.x.com/VlplhjB7Pq – 7:44 PM
“We’ve had some terrible starts and it’s frustrating. We showed we can do the right thing sometimes and then, sometimes we don’t.”
Devin Booker after Suns loss to Lakers.
“In spots, we show we can do it. That what makes it even more frustrating. We have a game like last game pic.x.com/VlplhjB7Pq – 7:44 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
“Never judge a player based solely on his box score. Jordan Goodwin was incredible (this afternoon), and he had two points and four fouls. He set the tone for us.” – JJ Redick, talking about Goodwin’s performance vs. the Suns. His defense against Booker was fantastic. AK – 6:33 PM
“Never judge a player based solely on his box score. Jordan Goodwin was incredible (this afternoon), and he had two points and four fouls. He set the tone for us.” – JJ Redick, talking about Goodwin’s performance vs. the Suns. His defense against Booker was fantastic. AK – 6:33 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: LAL 83, PHX 71
Durant: 19 Pts, 7 Reb, 5-14 FG, 7-10 FT
Booker: 13 Pts, 8 Ast, 4-10 FG
Richards: 11 Pts, 6 Reb, 5-5 FG
Doncic: 28 Pts, 8 Ast, 8 Reb, 6-15 FG, 12-13 FT – 5:31 PM
End of 1Q: LAL 83, PHX 71
Durant: 19 Pts, 7 Reb, 5-14 FG, 7-10 FT
Booker: 13 Pts, 8 Ast, 4-10 FG
Richards: 11 Pts, 6 Reb, 5-5 FG
Doncic: 28 Pts, 8 Ast, 8 Reb, 6-15 FG, 12-13 FT – 5:31 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: LAL 54, PHX 37
Booker: 9 Pts, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3P
Durant: 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 1-9 FG, 0-4 3P
Beal: 4 Pts, 2-6 FG, 0-2 3P
Doncic: 17 Pts, 6 Ast, 4 Reb, 4-8 FG, 3-6 3P
Suns are 2-for-18 from 3 – 4:40 PM
Halftime: LAL 54, PHX 37
Booker: 9 Pts, 4-9 FG, 0-2 3P
Durant: 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 1-9 FG, 0-4 3P
Beal: 4 Pts, 2-6 FG, 0-2 3P
Doncic: 17 Pts, 6 Ast, 4 Reb, 4-8 FG, 3-6 3P
Suns are 2-for-18 from 3 – 4:40 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Doncic drive, finish, 17 points.
Suns down 51-35 as Booker has 9.
Suns 15-of-39 FGs (2-of-16 on 3s) #Suns #LakeShow – 4:37 PM
Doncic drive, finish, 17 points.
Suns down 51-35 as Booker has 9.
Suns 15-of-39 FGs (2-of-16 on 3s) #Suns #LakeShow – 4:37 PM


Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Suns 6-of-21 overall (28.6%) in the first quarter, 1-of-10 from 3. Durant/Booker/Beal a combined 3-of-13 in the first.
The Los Angeles nightlife remains undefeated. – 4:15 PM
Suns 6-of-21 overall (28.6%) in the first quarter, 1-of-10 from 3. Durant/Booker/Beal a combined 3-of-13 in the first.
The Los Angeles nightlife remains undefeated. – 4:15 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: LAL 31, PHX 15
Durant: 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 1-6 FG
Dunn: 3 Pts, 1-2 3P
Booker: 2 Pts, 1-3 FG
Beal: 2 Pts, 1-4 FG
Doncic: 13 Pts, 3 Ast, 3-5 3P – 4:11 PM
End of 1Q: LAL 31, PHX 15
Durant: 4 Pts, 4 Reb, 1-6 FG
Dunn: 3 Pts, 1-2 3P
Booker: 2 Pts, 1-3 FG
Beal: 2 Pts, 1-4 FG
Doncic: 13 Pts, 3 Ast, 3-5 3P – 4:11 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Timeout Suns after Doncic 3.
Suns 5-of-17 FGs (1-of-8 from 3). Down 25-11 with 2:33 left in 1st.
Lakers started 7-0. Now on 17-2 run. Doncic 10 points in the first quarter.
Booker, Durant and Beal combined 6 points (2 each). Dunn Suns leading scorer with 3. #Suns #LakeShow – 4:05 PM
Timeout Suns after Doncic 3.
Suns 5-of-17 FGs (1-of-8 from 3). Down 25-11 with 2:33 left in 1st.
Lakers started 7-0. Now on 17-2 run. Doncic 10 points in the first quarter.
Booker, Durant and Beal combined 6 points (2 each). Dunn Suns leading scorer with 3. #Suns #LakeShow – 4:05 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Jordan Goodwin played 40 games in Phoenix last season. I imagine he spent many practices guarding Devin Booker, his assignment to begin this game. (Could also explain in part why he got the starting nod.) AK – 3:54 PM
Jordan Goodwin played 40 games in Phoenix last season. I imagine he spent many practices guarding Devin Booker, his assignment to begin this game. (Could also explain in part why he got the starting nod.) AK – 3:54 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Suns starting lineups vs. Lakers:
Bradley Beal
Devin Booker
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Durant
Nick Richards #Suns #LakeShow – 3:04 PM
Suns starting lineups vs. Lakers:
Bradley Beal
Devin Booker
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Durant
Nick Richards #Suns #LakeShow – 3:04 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Devin Booker has arrived.
Suns at Lakers. #Suns #LakeShow pic.x.com/GIzMEcUVp4 – 1:38 PM
Devin Booker has arrived.
Suns at Lakers. #Suns #LakeShow pic.x.com/GIzMEcUVp4 – 1:38 PM
More on this storyline
Nick DePaula: Devin Booker breaks out a PJ Tucker PE of his Book 1 pic.x.com/Boayhj6jwr -via Twitter @NickDePaula / March 16, 2025
“I’d be sad to see Devin Booker go; we’re all big fans,” said Sudarone Thihalolipavan, who’s attended Suns games the past three seasons. “His face is synonymous with the organization. But at the end of the day, I think nobody wants a losing basketball team. Basketball players look out for themselves. I think teams have to look out for themselves to some degree.” “This team needs wholesale improvement,” said Brad Larsen, a Suns fan for 12 years. “When you lose 151-148 (like Phoenix did Feb. 25 at Memphis), you’re playing an All-Star Game, not NBA basketball. You got to have some defense.” -via New York Times / March 15, 2025
“I mean, it’s a rare breed,” Booker told ESPN, wearing a T-shirt with his idol Kobe Bryant’s Black Mamba logo as he explained after a recent shootaround why playing for only one franchise is so important to him. “I take pride in the community in Phoenix, the people that have supported me since I was 18 when things were ugly. And the people that are with us, we just fell short of accomplishing what we want. So I want to do it, and I want to do it here. “That’s the responsibility of being a franchise player, and I wear that with honor. So it might not look the most pretty right now, but we got to get it done and I’m going to do it.” -via ESPN / March 14, 2025