MSG is Booker’s ‘favorite place to play’
Suns guard loves his time on the New York stage
NEW YORK – Suns All-Star Devin Booker has always enjoyed playing inside Madison Square Garden.
“Whenever you walk in this place, it’s like the basketball gods are watching you,” said Booker back in 2018. “It’s something about the lighting. It feels like you’re on stage when you play. Playing here is probably my favorite place to play in the league.”
And Booker has been the star of the show when he’s performed in what is often referred to as the “Mecca of basketball.”
Averaging 30.1 points in his six games at the Garden, Booker went for 33 in leading the Suns past the Knicks last season for Phoenix’s third straight victory at the famed arena.
“It’s obviously one of those ones that you mark going into the season,” Booker said after the game. “Any chance to be around the aura and the feel of this arena and the history that has been through it, any competitor wants to perform.”
The Suns face the Knicks on Friday in the first of a back-to-back that ends Saturday at Brooklyn, competing a fourgame road trip. Here’s a look back at Booker’s six games at the Garden:
2015-16 season
Date: Jan. 29, 2016
Final score: Knicks 102, Suns 84 Booker’s numbers: 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 3-of-6 on 3s) in 27 minutes, 3 assists
First time: Suns were 14-34 at the time with just four wins on the road to 21 losses. In his first game in the Garden, the
one-and-done rookie Booker out of Kentucky led all scorers as he shared the floor with Carmelo Anthony, who finished with 19. Booker caught a inbounds lob pass in the lane, scored and was fouled on the play.
2016-17 season
Date: Jan. 21, 2017
Final score: Suns 107, Knicks 105 Booker’s numbers: 26 points (10of-21 FGs, 3-of-4 on 3s) in 37 minutes, five turnovers
For the win: Booker’s third and final 3 of the night with 31.7 seconds left lifted Phoenix to the two-point win. The look on Jared Dudley’s face on the bench was priceless. Anthony got the final shot of the night, but missed a 3 that rolled in and out. Then Suns coach Jeff Hornacek put his arm around Anthony, who sat on
the scorers table in defeat.
2017-18 season
Date: Nov. 3, 2017
Final score: Knicks 120, Suns 107 Booker’s numbers: 34 points (10of-19 FGs, 2-of-7 on 3s) in 33 minutes, 12of-12 FTs
Out of hand early: The Suns found themselves down 40-19 in the second quarter, but did pull within six in the third before losing. This was Hornacek’s first win against his former team after Phoenix swept the Knicks in his first season as head coach in New York in 2016-17. Current Suns assistant Jarrett Jack was playing for the Knicks.
2018-19 season
Date: Dec. 17, 2018
Final score: Suns 128, Knicks 110 Booker’s numbers: 38 points (11of-23 FGs, 2-of-7 on 3s) in 37 minutes, 14of-15 FTs
Almost: Booker fell two points of breaking a record for most points by a Suns player at MSG. Shawn Marion dropped the record 39 on the Knicks in 2006, but he needed three overtimes and 60 minutes to do it in a 140-133 loss. The Suns later beat New York in Phoenix as Booker scored 41. So two of their 19 victories came against the Knicks.
2019-20 season
Date: Jan. 16, 2020
Final score: Suns 121, Knicks 98 Booker’s numbers: 29 points (9-of-17 FGs, 2-of-8 on 3s) in 28 minutes, four turnovers
20-20: On a night Deandre Ayton posted his first career 20-20 night of 26 points and 21 rebounds, Booker led all scorers as he and Ayton both finished with a plus-31. This was during Monty Williams’ first season as head coach in Phoenix. The Suns led by as many as 29 points as current Suns reserve Elfrid Payton was with the Knicks.
2020-21 season
Date: April 26, 2021
Final score: Suns 118, Knicks 110 Booker’s numbers: 33 points (14of-26 FGs, 1-of-4 on 3s) in 41 minutes, four turnovers
Three in a row: This marked a third consecutive victory for the Suns at MSG as they snapped New York’s nine-game winning streak. Booker led Phoenix back from a 15-point hole with the help of his new backcourt mate. Chris Paul scored Phoenix’s final seven points capped by a contested 3 over Reggie Bullock with 14.5 seconds left to close out the Knicks.