Despite Cam Thomas scoring over 40 points for the third game in a row, the Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 116-112 thanks to Devin Booker’s comeback from a month and a half absence.
Booker played on Tuesday for the first time since sustaining a groin injury in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in late December. During his 21-game absence, the Suns had a mixed record, including a stretch of six straight losses.
But against the Nets, Booker was back on track, scoring 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting and adding six assists in just 26 minutes to guide the Suns to yet another victory.
Booker was delighted to be back, telling reporters after the game: “That’s all I want right there, man.
“Just competition, being back out there with the band, feeling that energy, feeling that presence. The team has it rolling right now, so just inserting myself in a way that wasn’t disruptive and try to keep the flow that they have.”
Suns coach Monty Williams feels Booker’s desperation to win is the key to the positive effect he has on his team-mates, saying: “Devin’s attitude is always he just wants to eat. Kill and eat. That’s how he operates. And he’s a winner. And he wants to do everything he can to win the game.
“I thought the guys got a great deal of energy from him tonight just being on the floor. Everybody’s excited that he’s back.”
Book in his return to the hardwood:
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 8, 2023
19 PTS
6 AST
4 REB
1 WIN pic.twitter.com/00efBGrNoV
Another outstanding performance from Thomas, who at 21 years old became the youngest player to ever score 40 points in three straight games, nearly wrecked Booker’s successful return to the floor.
Prior to his 43-point performance in the loss to Booker’s Suns, the guard scored a career-high 44 points against the Washington Wizards on Saturday, followed by a second career-high 47 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
While he was frustrated two of those games ended in defeats, Thomas is enjoying the historic form he finds himself in, stating: “It’s real surreal. I’m just glad to have my name in the history books, being this young.
“Obviously, I’d rather have the win because it sounds better when you have these 40-point games with the two [games] that we lost.
“But it’s just good to have my name in history, I’m just going to embrace it. Just be proud of all the hard work you put in.”