1 overall pick has been a career double-double machine since his first NBA game, anchoring one of the league’s best defenses, and scoring better around the rim than most anyone in the league. But each time, he’d settle back to his 16/10 self soon after. And after each of those, Devin Booker, Monty Williams, Ayton himself, or all three, would say that should be expected on a regular basis. The 24 year old, fifth-year center had previously posted 20/20 games in years two and three of his career, his age-21 and age-22 years. That is what put us into position to win the game.” “Even though we didn’t make the shots we wanted to make,” Ayton said, “The defense and awareness was still there. The Suns beat the Pistons on Friday and Jazz on Saturday despite making only 25% of their three-point shots, a staple in the offense, across the two games. Just to make sure my guys are there and activated.” “I just tried my best to keep the energy alive from this morning to tonight. “From shootaround you could tell everyone was still recovering from Thanksgiving in a way,” Ayton said after Friday’s game. You know what guys are capable of.”Īyton attributes his outburst, at least in part, from trying to set a high-energy tone among his teammates who were dragging after Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday. “I mean, he’ll say something to you guys about how I am on him all the time,” head coach Monty Williams said. “Stellar performance, back-to-back nights for him,” All-Star guard Devin Booker said.

I think I’m to that point where this should be a norm. “And you have to be willing to put up numbers and win games night in, night out. “I want to be a great player,” Ayton said of his back to back exploits. The 29 points, 21 rebounds, 2 blocks effort came on the second night of a back-to-back where he had just posted 28 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks in a win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

On Saturday night against the Utah Jazz (12-10), in a thriller the Phoenix Suns (13-6) won by a single point, Suns center Deandre Ayton posted his third career 20/20 game to once again remind the world just how high his ceiling is.Īyton sealed the 113-112 victory with an offensive rebound off a Booker miss, his 9th on the offensive end and 21st overall, as time expired to snuff out any Jazz hopes to steal the game.

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