I’m not gonna lie, I had a little post-traumatic Suns disorder on Tuesday night. Because this team led by as many as 31 and still found a way to let a Dallas group that is clearly in tank mode make things uncomfortable late.
A 21-point lead in the fourth quarter shrank to six with two minutes left. And my brain immediately went back to last Thursday. The fourth quarter against Golden State. It’s a game that still hasn’t fully left my system. That familiar feeling crept in. Oh no. Here we go again.
But there was a key difference this time. His name is Devin Booker.
Booker was on the floor this time, and the offense had a steady hand. Last week, Dillon Brooks held the ball too long in those moments. He needed to move it and did not. On Tuesday night, Booker saw the doubles coming and calmly passed out of them. He made the right read every time.
That is the reminder. Booker is the offense. for he organizes it and calms it. He does not turn possessions into black holes, rather, he turns them into solutions. Oh, and we saw Mark Williams in the fourth as well.
This win stopped the bleeding. After two straight losses and three losses at home for a team that has been excellent in its own building, it was much needed. On the first night of a back-to-back with the defending champions waiting the next evening, the math is simple. You want to go 1-1. And that only happens if you take care of business in game one.
Mission accomplished.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Brooks and his 28 points against the 76ers moved him back into a tie for second place in the Bright Side Baller standings.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 54 against the Mavs. Here are your nominees:
Dillon Brooks
28 points (11-of-23, 2-of-10 3PT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 fouls, +10 +/-
Devin Booker
21 points (5-of-12, 1-of-7 3PT), 2 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 turnovers, +10 +/-
Royce O’Neale
14 points (5-of-10, 4-of-9 3PT), 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, +6 +/-
Mark Williams
11 points (4-of-7), 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 fouls, +0 +/-
Jalen Green
8 points (2-of-6, 0-of-3 3PT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +7 +/-
Jordan Goodwin
7 points (2-of-7, 1-of-4 3PT), 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 4 fouls, -6 +/-
Who doth earned ye vote?
