Devin Booker scores career-high 34 in Suns’ loss at Miami

Former University of Kentucky star Devin Booker scored 34 points and had four assists and three rebounds in the Phoenix Suns’ 108-92 loss at Miami on Thursday night. Fifteen of Booker’s points came in the fourth quarter.

Booker’s previous career high was 32 points. He and former UK teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, now with the Minnesota Timberwolves, are the only two NBA rookies with multiple 30-plus scoring performances this season. Towns has three.

He finished 11-for-21 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, and was 9-for-9 at the free-throw line.

“You have to credit Phoenix,” Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They kept on playing and then Booker got on a roll. … He’s a good young player. But we were able to respond there and get some stops.”

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points for Miami. Goran Dragic added 25 against his former team and the Heat never trailed on the way to their third straight victory.

Wade praised Booker after the game, telling the Miami Herald that “He’s one of the future two-guards of this league. I like him. I like him a lot.”

The rookie sounded somewhat humbled.

“Obviously, Dwyane’s a living legend, everyone knows that, especially when he’s here in Wade County,” Booker said. “I try to take that challenge and try to have fun with it. Those are the games I live for — people I grew up watching. Now I get a chance to play against them.”

Archie Goodwin, another former Kentucky standout, added 10 points, three assists and two rebounds off the bench for Phoenix.

Luol Deng scored 12 and Hassan Whiteside grabbed 11 rebounds for Miami, which led by as many as 21 in the first half.

Alex Len added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix, which tied a club record by losing its 17th consecutive road game. The Suns have dropped 30 of 33 overall.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 10:20 PM with the headline "Devin Booker scores career-high 34 in Suns’ loss at Miami."