On January 27, Beijing time, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Jazz 105-97 to win 8 consecutive games. The sun and the jazz in two consecutive battles are all won by the sun, which is enough to show that the first place in the western part of the sun is not a waste of time. The game was choppy, the Suns led by as many as 21 points in the first quarter, but the Jazz narrowed the gap by 19 points in the second quarter, the Suns pulled 10 points in the third quarter, and the Jazz narrowed the gap to 2 points in the last quarter, but Booker scored 6 points to help the Suns seal the victory.
Booker's performance was too crucial in this game, the Jazz had chased the point difference to 92-94 before the final 2 minutes and 43 seconds, Booker faced O'Neal's defense to complete the mid-range, and then completed a high mid-range 1 minute and 21 seconds before the final, both free throws were also hit, Booker scored 6 points in 2 minutes to help the Suns stabilize the situation.
Booker was 39 minutes and 34 seconds, 16-of-28, 2-of-6 from three-point range, 9-of-11 from the free throw line, and had 43 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal, shooting 57.1% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. His craziest was the first quarter, 12 minutes in a single quarter, 8 of 11, 1 of 3 three-pointers, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while the Jazz only scored 18 points in the first quarter of the team.
Booker also set a number of records in this game: 1. Booker scored 21 points in the first quarter, the second highest score in the first quarter of his career, and the Jazz 18 points for the whole team;
2. Booker became the first defender in Suns history to score at least 43 points and 12 rebounds;
3. Booker won the 16th career 40+;
4. Booker surpassed Xiaosi 16 times 40+ to become the most player in The Suns' history with 40+;
5. Booker took 16 40+ at the age of 25 and is also the youngest Mr. 40+ in the history of the Suns to have more than 15 times.
After the game, Monty Williams was unhappy with Booker's All-Star vote, and he praised his disciple, saying: "Booker should be an All-Star starter, and tonight's game is one of the proofs, and when I see Booker's All-Star votes, and the players ahead of him, I can only smile bitterly."
Booker's two games against the Jazz with 33 points and a 43 points in one game are enough to show that the Jazz's defense has indeed become a weakness this season, and it is difficult to win when their proud offense collapses. Of course, this also has a lot to do with Mitchell's injury.
Text/Yan Xiaobai