Devin Booker’s first-quarter three-pointer had barely settled through the bucket when, from a few feet away, Kevin Durant let slip a loud roar. Hours before Thursday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant delivered Booker a message. Don’t worry about getting me involved, Durant said. I’ll get myself involved. You be aggressive. Booker took his advice, scoring 16 points in the opening quarter.
Moments after Booker’s three, it was Bradley Beal’s turn. First, it was a 25-footer. Then a 23-footer from the corner. Along the Phoenix Suns sideline, Frank Vogel clapped furiously. For months Vogel has pleaded with his team to shoot more threes. Film sessions were dedicated to missed opportunities. “A reluctant three-point team with great shooters,” was how Vogel described his team. Too many times Vogel looked at a postgame stat sheet to see an opponent shoot 40-plus threes, with Phoenix in the 20s. On Thursday, the Suns jacked up 39 threes—making 14 of them—in a 127–109 win.
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