?No Disrespect?: Devin Booker Settles Scores With Grizzlies After Humiliating Them in Garbage Time

Devin Booker went off for a season-high 40 points in tonight?s in-season tournament game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Phoenix dominated the Grizzlies 110-89 to improve their in-season tournament record to 3-1. Even though the outcome of the game was determined well before the final whistle, Booker played his heart out till the last play. The reason was that Phoenix was fighting for a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament, and every point mattered.

Devin Booker settled his score with the Memphis Grizzlies after his dominant performance in garbage time.

Devin Booker defends his garbage time performance against the Grizzlies

During tonight?s Suns-Grizzlies game, Devin Booker hit a late-game three-pointer off the glass while his team was leading by 18 points with just 15 seconds remaining. Usually, the starters are subbed out of the game when they have a commanding lead, and there is no scope for a comeback. Many considered Devin Booker?s three-pointer disrespectful as his team was already winning by a huge margin. Booker later explained why he humiliated the Grizzlies in garbage time, ?No disrespect to the Grizzlies. I wouldn’t take that shot if it wasn’t In-Season Tournament, but we needed it.?

Devin Booker played till the final seconds of the blowout game because Phoenix had to win by a huge margin to clinch a spot in the knockout stages of the in-season tournament. In the new format introduced by the NBA, point differential is important, just like the number of wins. So, each point Devin Booker scored in tonight?s game could prove crucial in their in-season tournament future. Phoenix is second in their group and hoping to be a wild-card entry in the knockout stage. Each team is fighting for a chance to lift the inaugural NBA Cup in Las Vegas and a prize money of $500,000 each.

The in-season tournament is proving great for the NBA

The inaugural in-season tournament has breathed a new life into the NBA. In the past, the games played at the beginning of the regular season used to be feelers as players took some time to get back into rhythm after a long off-season. But this season has been exciting and competitive from the get-go because of the in-season tournament. The fans are witnessing thrilling games being played on newly designed courts, and that has helped the NBA attract more audiences.

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The players are also playing at the highest level to get their hands on $500,000 and the NBA Cup. That was evident in tonight?s game as fans got to witness the dominant performance of Devin Booker until the final whistle. The inaugural in-season tournament is proving to be a great initiative by the NBA, and it looks like the tournament is here to stay.

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