Booker’s Clutch Performance: Hits 3-Pointer in Final Seconds, Suns Secure 116-113 Victory Over Knicks, Extending Win Streak to 7

The Phoenix Suns defeated the New York Knicks 116-113 on Sunday thanks to a game-winning 3-pointer by Devin Booker with 1.7 seconds left. Booker ended with 28 points and 11 assists. This is the team’s eighth consecutive win.

Because Kevin Durant had missed two games in a row due to an injured right foot, the Knicks played Booker with more emphasis. But after they dished the ball out to him on the Suns’ last play, Booker sprinted to retrieve it and then shot the game-winning shot from behind the arc, directly in front of the New York bench.

Even without guard Grayson Allen, the Suns still managed to win thanks to 25 points from Eric Gordon. On Sunday, he felt sick after starting all sixteen games.

The Knicks, who have now lost three in a row, were led by Jalen Brunson’s 35 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. In a last-ditch effort following Booker’s three, he scored a basket.

After the intermission, Julius Randle scored 17 of his 28 points.

Devin Booker shoots basketball

In Friday’s win over Memphis, Booker scored 40 points—the first game Durant missed—because of the injury. On Sunday, the Knicks appeared intent on turning him into a passer, and the Suns’ offense was able to capitalize on his turnover by making enough baskets to put them ahead for the most of the game.

But when the Knicks finally knotted it on a jumper by Brunson with 21.9 seconds left, Booker figured out a way to guarantee that he was the one shooting.

Eric Gordon shoots and makes three-pointer.

Even though Durant took a pregame walk to assess his foot, the Suns later said he would be sitting out the game for a second time. Durant had a winning streak that went back a decade and to his original NBA team, but the injury ended that run. During his time with the Warriors and the Nets, he never lost to the Knicks, and he has won 13 of his last 14 games against them. When he was with Oklahoma City, they lost on April 7, 2013.

Eric Gordon shoots and makes three-pointer.

With 12 points from Gordon and 17 rebounds (including 7 from Jusuf Nurkic), the Suns jumped out to a 34-22 lead in the first quarter against the Knicks. Just before halftime, the Knicks narrowed the gap to 64–56.

When the Knicks got back into the game, it was the Suns who had a 15-point lead. New York took its first lead of the game at 86-84 with 2 and a half minutes left in the third on 3-pointers from Brunson and Immanuel Quickley, who combined for a 10-0 run. Then, Randle started cruising to the hoop, scoring consecutively to cap off a 20-5 run.

Jordan Goodwin layup.

Phoenix took a 95-92 lead into halftime thanks to a 3-pointer by Jordan Goodwin.

Eric Gordon shoots and makes three.