Devin Booker made some history on Friday night by scoring 70 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. But he upset some people on the way to the astronomical point total.
Celtics reporter Marc D’Amico says the Celtics’ coaching staff was left shaking their heads at the way the Suns tried to pad Booker’s stats in the game, which Phoenix lost 130-120.
Suns are doing everything they can to get Booker to 70+ pts (i.e. calling TOs, purposely fouling), and C's coaching staff is shaking heads.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) March 25, 2017
Celtics/Suns come together at midcourt, exchange words after game. C's Clearly took exception to what just took place in Suns' stat-shopping
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) March 25, 2017
Isaiah Thomas, who had 34 in the win, didn’t seem happy about Phoenix’s tactics.
Isaiah on Suns fouling for Booker: "I've never seen nothing like that, chasing those numbers, but It is what it is."
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) March 25, 2017
Phoenix was down 128-115 with 44 seconds left and called a 20-second timeout. Booker was sent to the line by a foul from Isaiah Thomas and made all three of his free throws. Then after the Suns fouled Boston and Thomas made both his free throws to make it a 12-point game with 41 seconds left, Phoenix called timeout again.
The Suns were also fouling as part of a comeback strategy, unwilling to concede defeat despite the large deficit in the final minute.
Booker still had to play awesome to get that many points, and he did. He was 21-for-40 and made 24 of 26 free throws to get to 70 points. He probably would have scored in the sixties if his coach didn’t help out with the fouls and timeouts, but it seems like Phoenix did its best to get him to that pretty, round number.
Suns head coach Earl Watson certainly wasn’t apologizing for his tactics.
Earl Watson unapologetic about using fouls and timeouts to aid Booker's 70 point night. Watson: "Do something about it."
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) March 25, 2017
