Booker savors payback win over playoff-rival Mavs
After mounting a 22-point comeback against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker relished his squad's victory over the team that eliminated them in the playoffs.
"If you get your asses kicked, you want to get your get-back," Booker said to ESPN's Jorge Sedano postgame, speaking about the Suns' 33-point loss in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals in May. "That's just life."
The Suns won Wednesday's rematch on a contested fadeaway from former Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee.
"We still have 81 games to go," Booker said. "I think it's a good start to show our team if we're down early that we can come back in games."
Last season ,the Suns were the league's top overall seed, showing a knack for closing out contests. In games where the score was within five points in the final five minutes, Phoenix had a league-best 33-9 record.
"I think any time you win in the NBA, it's cool," said Suns coach Monty Williams, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "But to beat the team that knocked you out, it doesn't erase that feeling, that hurt, but it does help you grow."
The Mavericks were up 15 points with 8:31 left in the fourth quarter, thanks to 16 consecutive points from offseason acquisition Christian Wood. Booker checked back in, scoring seven of his 28 points and dishing out six of his nine assists in the final stretch. Lee played exclusively in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points.
"It was unbelievable," Booker said about Lee's performance, according to Forbes' Shane Young. "But I knew it was coming. He knows how to play the game the right way."
The Suns will face the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET.