Devin Booker had high praise for his Suns teammate after his key performance helped them defeat the Lakers in their NBA Cup fixture.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 127-100 in a crucial NBA Cup fixture. The Suns were sensational, bolstered by the return of Kevin Durant.
Durant put up strong numbers, with 23 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Devin Booker also shined, with 26 points and 10 assists.
But the Suns didn’t just rely on their stars tonight. In fact, one of their underrated role players arguably had his best game of the season.
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Booker praises Jusuf Nurkic for impact on Suns
Jusuf Nurkic had a massive double-double last night, putting up 12 points and 12 rebounds. He was a huge factor in mitigating Anthony Davis’ presence on the boards.
Devin Booker spoke in his post-game press conference about Nurkic’s performance. He believes that the Bosnian had his best game of the season against the Lakers last night.
“Super important. I think [it was] one of his best games of the season this year. We’ve been rallying behind him. They tried to switch one through five for a segment”
“He punished the smaller defender every time down. As well as making plays and certain strengths that you’re talking about.”
Nurkic has been solid for the Suns this season, averaging 9.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. Rather than scoring, he has made rebounding his primary focus on the team.
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Beal explains the importance of Nurkic’s post-play
Bradley Beal also heaped praise on Nurkic after the game. He spoke about how Jusuf Nurkic playing in the paint helps the rest of the team unlock their true potential.
The Suns broke a five-game losing streak last night with their win over the Lakers. With the return of Kevin Durant and the big three finally healthy, the Suns will now look to make a run across their next games.
The Phoenix Suns appear to have a much stronger roster compared to last year, having managed their limitations under the salary cap rules quite well.
If their roster can stay healthy, the Suns do have to be considered one of the strongest contenders to at least reach the NBA Finals from the Western Conference.
