PHX 118, NOP 116: Devin Booker Notches 47 ESPN FP
Tyler Okonkwo
Student & Retail Associate ยท Houston Rockets fan
Suns Survive Thriller Over Pelicans, Booker Drops 32 to Secure Clutch W
Close ones hit different. Devin Booker just reminded everyone why he's been All-NBA caliber this season, dropping 32 points on efficient 10-21 shooting to carry Phoenix past New Orleans in a 118-116 nail-biter. This game had everything, and your fantasy lineup probably felt every second of it.
| Player | ESPN FP | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | +/- Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Booker | 47.0 | 44.8 | 32/4/4 | 24.6/4.0/6.0 | +7.4 |
| Trey Murphy III | 42.0 | 39.4 | 22/2/4 | 21.9/5.7/3.8 | +0.1 |
| Grayson Allen | 44.0 | 37.4 | 12/2/8 | 17.6/3.1/4.1 | -5.6 |
| Dejounte Murray | 32.0 | 35.1 | 15/8/5 | 15.5/4.5/6.3 | -0.5 |
| Jalen Green | 33.0 | 33.5 | 25/5/3 | 13.4/3.0/2.1 | +11.6 |
| Saddiq Bey | 32.0 | 32.2 | 19/6/0 | 17.4/5.7/2.5 | +1.6 |
| Zion Williamson | 24.0 | 31.0 | 19/10/2 | 21.6/5.9/3.4 | -2.6 |
| Herbert Jones | 37.0 | 30.4 | 14/2/4 | 8.8/3.6/2.8 | +5.2 |
| Collin Gillespie | 32.0 | 30.2 | 12/6/6 | 13.5/4.1/4.8 | -1.5 |
| Oso Ighodaro | 28.0 | 26.7 | 13/6/1 | 5.9/4.8/2.0 | +7.1 |
Booker's Game Winner Mentality
Booker went off when it mattered most. His +7.4 from his season average isn't huge on paper, but 32 points on 48% from the field and 63% from three is championship-caliber stuff. Especially in a one-possession game. He hit the clutch shots and didn't let the Pelicans' defense rattle him. If you own him, this is exactly why he's on your roster. He's not always putting up 40, but when the game is tight, he finds another gear.
The real story here though? Jalen Green absolutely went off. +11.6 points versus his season average. 25 points on 8-17 shooting with solid efficiency. That's the kind of performance that gets people asking "wait, where did this come from?" Green has been up and down all season, but nights like this remind you he's got all-star ceiling upside. For league depth, he's someone to keep your eye on. That said, 30 minutes of playing time is the baseline here, so monitor if that stays consistent.
The Grayson Allen Puzzle
Here's where it gets weird. Grayson Allen putting up 37.4 Yahoo FP sounds great until you notice he's -5.6 from his season average. He grabbed 8 assists and only shot 4-10 from the field. That's not a flop, but it's not the Allen that gets owned in 54% of leagues for a reason. He's a low-volume scorer who makes his money on threes and doesn't turn it over. Tonight he was more of a facilitator. Still useful, but this doesn't scream "add him" to me. He did get some ownership bump though, sitting at 54% after this game. I'd wait to see if it's sustainable before making moves.
New Orleans' Bright Spots and Trouble Signs
Trey Murphy III had a solid night at 39.4 Yahoo FP, but here's the concern, he's basically right on his season average (22.0 points is his norm, 21.9 in the box). He worked 41 minutes and still only put up 22. That's not the "breaking out" energy you want to see. He's a complementary piece, and that's fine, but don't expect playoff-level performance when the team needs to lean on him harder.
Zion Williamson played 33 minutes and grabbed 10 boards, which is what you sign up for. 31 Yahoo FP is solid, but he came in -2.6 from his season scoring average. The Pelicans needed more juice from him in crunch time. He didn't get it.
The real standout for New Orleans? Herbert Jones. Normally an 8.8 PPG guy, he put up 14 points on efficient 6-11 shooting and grabbed 2 steals. He was +5.2 from his average and hit some timely threes. All-Defensive First Team caliber play showing up on the stat sheet. If Herbert keeps getting playing time around 30 minutes like tonight, he's someone to consider in deeper leagues. One game doesn't make a trend, but this is the kind of role expansion that matters.
Saddiq Bey at 32.2 Yahoo FP is basically league average output for him. He's dependable, just not flashy.
Waiver Wire Action
Oso Ighodaro is getting work. 26.7 Yahoo FP on 26 minutes played, and he's +7.1 from his season average. Phoenix's big man situation is in flux, and Ighodaro is getting opportunities. If he keeps playing 25+ minutes, he's a guy to add in 12-team leagues and deeper. The scoring is light, but he's been a rebounder and he's getting minutes. That matters.
Collin Gillespie played 32 minutes as Phoenix's backup point guard. He hit 4 threes and put up 30.2 Yahoo FP. But he shot only 4-12 and was -1.5 from his average. He's depth. Don't get hyped.
On the drop side, if someone is panicking on Zion after tonight, don't. He's still getting 33 minutes and grabbing boards. One bad shooting night doesn't change his role.
The Bottom Line
Phoenix survived a test. Booker kept them in it, Jalen Green put on a show, and the supporting cast held up enough to steal a road win. For your fantasy squad, if you own Booker, sleep easy. If you're thinking about Green, tonight showed you what he can do when the opportunities are there. Just watch his minutes.
This was a good win for the Suns, but don't overreact to any individual performance other than Booker's clutch factor. Close games produce weird box scores. See what sticks after the next few games before making trades.