NBA Playoffs: Devin Booker's Triple-Double Carries Phoenix Suns

PHOENIX, AZ — Sunday's matinee between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers turned into a mano a mano showdown between Devin Booker and Paul George.

The former notched his first career triple-double, scoring 40 points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists, to propel the Suns to a 120-114 victory over the latter's side in Sunday's Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

George managed to finish the day with 34 points on 10-of-26 shooting, while Clippers point guard Reggie Jackson added 24 points in a back-and-forth affair.

It was a day that Booker won't soon forget, as he recalled to members of the media after the final horn sounded.

Booker, when asked where Sunday's performance ranked, said he'd let the contest's final score speak for itself.

“I'll let you guys do the rankings,” Booker said of his performance Sunday. “I'm just going out there to win every game possible. I've been saying this since the start of the playoffs — every next game is the biggest game.”

Booker's first-year teammate and NBA veteran, Jae Crowder, went a little deeper in analyzing the performance that the sixth-year guard turned in on Sunday.

Crowder, who finished Sunday's showdown with 13 points and six rebounds, said that Booker's ascendance on the sport's biggest stage is no surprise to anyone in the Suns' locker room.

“I don't understand why everyone's acting surprised at this point,” Suns forward Jae Crowder said about Booker. “This is his first time on this stage but he's capable. He's more than capable. He're more than ready. He prepares like no other.”

Looking Forward

Booker and the Suns return to the hardwood of Phoenix Suns Arena on Tuesday night, tipping off at 6 p.m. local time.

The Suns will look to extend the team's playoff win streak to nine games, dating back to the team's opening round series against the L.A. Lakers.

A win on Tuesday's would get Phoenix a step closer to the association's all-time playoff win streak record of 15, set by the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

The status of Suns guard Chris Paul, who is in the NBA's health and safety protocols, is unclear.

The Clippers will also likely be without All-Pro forward, Kawhi Leonard, who injured his knee in the team's series victory over the Utah Jazz.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.