Suns fans aren’t letting Devin Booker off the hook for Play-In loss after late collapse

Booker finished with 22 points, but his quiet fourth quarter became the focal point of fan backlash as Phoenix squandered an 11-point lead. Many also pointed to five missed free throws, which, if made, could have carried the Suns to a No. 7 seed and punched their ticket to the playoffs.

The reaction was immediate, continuing into Wednesday as the debate grew over whether Booker was fully to blame for the loss. While many called out other aspects of the game that led to the defeat, others questioned whether the All-Star can consistently deliver in elimination scenarios.

Booker’s overall scoring line also reflected a significant drop-off in production, aligning with much of the fan conversation about a post-All-Star trend of diminished crunch-time impact.

According to Bright Side of the Suns’ John Voita III, Booker has averaged 5.0 points in the fourth quarter (35th in the league) and 2.9 points in clutch situations (44th) since the All-Star break. He holds a minus-30 plus-minus in the clutch, which ranks 394th, and has committed eight turnovers in those moments, the second most in the league. His net rating in clutch situations is minus-35.2.

Expectations were high before the play-in despite these concerns, but now the defeat has fans questioning whether the Suns’ star can truly translate his production into postseason dominance. Still, the Suns are not finished.

They will face the winner of another play-in matchup for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot, offering Booker a chance at an immediate response.

Friday night will be about elimination, but fans will also be watching to see if their long-time star can showcase his excellence when it matters most.