Moss Point's Devin Booker joins lofty company with first 30-point game

Phoenix Suns rookie and Moss Point product Devin Booker joined some lofty company Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-6 Booker scored a career-high 32 points in the Suns' 97-94 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Despite the loss, Booker became the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 30 points in a game at 19 years and 81 days.

Lebron James and Kevin Durant, two men destined for the Hall of Fame, are the only two players who were younger than Booker at the time of their 30-point games.

Booker was 9-of-16 from the field Tuesday and hit 6-of-11 3-pointers. He also recorded a pair of assists in 40 minutes of playing time.

Booker has seen his minutes significantly increase since the first of the year following the season-ending injury to Suns leading scorer Eric Bledsoe.

Some wondered whether Booker would be a major contributor as a first-year player, but he's getting plenty of minutes and showing improvement with more time on the court.

"Just playing against their best two-guard every night, I take pride in that," Booker told The Arizona Republic Tuesday. "I feel like every night I have something to prove."

Booker also hit six 3-pointers to break the Suns rookie record.

Over the last 12 games, Booker is averaging 15.4 points. He is averaging 8.7 points overall this season.

Booker leads all NBA rookies in 3-point percentage at 44.59, easily out-pacing Washington Wizards small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. (38.9).

"He's going to score points in this league," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek told ArizonaSports.com. "I was much happier with his defense tonight. Don't always be the nail. Hammer into somebody once and let them take the brunt of the blow, and he did that a few times. He made some strides defensively. When you play well defensively I think it does help your offense. You're into the game."

The Suns have lost five straight and sit at 13-30.

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Moss Point's Devin Booker joins lofty company with first 30-point game ."