Valley of the Suns
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Player of the Week: Devin Booker’s early week explosion

By Lucas Johnson

TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - December 05: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns injures himself and leaves the court early during the second half of an NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on December 5, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Devin Booker‘s week was cut short by injury, he still did enough for the Phoenix Suns to win the Valley of the Suns’ player of the week award.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker was in the midst of a break out week when all of a sudden it came to a screeching halt. Luckily for the Suns, their fans and of course Booker, his injury shouldn’t have him out too long. Even though the first week of December ended badly for Booker, he was just so amazing in the beginning of it that he has been awarded with the title of player of the week.

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Booker began the month returning to the town of Boston were he became a legend last season scoring 70 points against the Celtics. There wasn’t a repeat of the 70 point outburst, however Booker did impress none the less. In the Suns’ loss to the Celtics, Booker had 38 points, four rebounds and five assists while shooting 16-29 from the floor, 3-8 from the 3-point line and 3-3 from the free throw line. The only down part was that Booker fouled out of the contest.

It would be hard for any elite player to have a better game after scoring 38 points in the previous contest, however Booker did. In a win against the Philadelphia 76ers, Booker exploded with 46 points, eight rebounds, one assists, two steals and a block. He was efficient scorer making 17-32 field goals, 5-8 shots from behind the arc and 7-8 free throws. The 46 points is currently a season high for Booker.

Even before his injury, this game against the Toronto Raptors was going to be tough, because it was the second game of a back-to-back. Before being helped off the court before the team’s loss, Booker ended the game with 19 points, five rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block. He shot a poor 4-15 from the floor and 1-5 from deep. His saving grace was that he shot 10-12 from the charity strip.

Due to Booker’s injury he didn’t play in the Suns’ loss to the Washington Wizards.

Honorable Mention

The second year point guard Tyler Ulis gets this week’s honorable mention. Ulis had a solid week to begin December. He averaged 9.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.3 blocks. Ulis’ 44.4 percent shooting from 3-point land this week was a big uptick from his 28.6 percent season average.

Next: Suns Rookies and Sophomores Week 7

Injury aside, the beginning of December has been great for Booker statistically. In the three games he played in, he’s averaged 34.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 blocks and 1.3 steals. If the Phoenix Suns can get the Devin Booker that put up these averages back once he is healthy, then the Sun’s will be much more competitive and Booker will be in line to win more of player of the week awards.

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