2023 NBA playoffs – Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Trae Young, Dillon Brooks, Ja Morant shine in debuts

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Kane Dane
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The large stage and vivid lights of the 2023 NBA playoffs didn’t show to be an excessive amount of for a number of younger stars making playoff debuts on Sunday, as they did every little thing from hitting game-winning photographs to setting franchise data.

Utilizing knowledge from the ESPN Stats & Data group, right here’s an All-Star staff of types highlighting the day’s 5 glowing debuts.

Booker scored 34 factors within the Phoenix Suns’ Sport 1 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, setting the franchise file for factors in a playoff debut.

He scored or assisted on 53 factors, the fifth most by a participant in his playoff debut over the previous 20 years, in response to Elias Sports activities Bureau analysis.

Booker additionally had eight assists and 7 rebounds as Phoenix gained its first playoff recreation in 11 years. For Booker, it was definitely worth the wait.

“The depth’s totally different, the physicality is totally different,” Booker instructed reporters. “And it’s just one recreation.”

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Devin Booker flies to the rim in transition and throws down a two-handed dunk.

Booker was not a one-man present, as teammate Ayton had 21 factors and 16 rebounds whereas going 10-of-11 from the ground, turning into the primary Suns participant with 20 factors and 10 rebounds in his NBA playoff debut since Corridor of Famer Connie Hawkins in 1970.

Ayton additionally was the sixth participant with 20 factors, 15 rebounds and 90% taking pictures (or higher) in any playoff recreation.

“[Booker] is a scoring machine, places a number of stress on our protection to cowl him in a number of methods,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel mentioned. “Once we double-team him, he’s acquired Ayton in there.”

The Atlanta Hawks’ younger star stole the present at a raucous Madison Sq. Backyard, turning into the second participant over the previous 25 years with a go-ahead area objective within the ultimate 10 seconds of the fourth quarter or time beyond regulation in his playoff debut, in response to Elias. He joins Dwyane Wade (2004 for the Miami Warmth in opposition to the New Orleans Hornets).

However there was extra to Younger’s recreation than his decisive shot with 0.9 seconds to play. He turned the fourth participant in NBA historical past with 30 factors and 10 assists in a playoff debut, becoming a member of Derrick Rose (2009), Chris Paul (2008) and LeBron James (2006). And he was simply the second with 30 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds (James).

Eight gamers in NBA historical past have had 30 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists of their playoff debut — and two of them (Younger and Booker) did it Sunday.

Though he wasn’t the most important identify on his personal staff making his playoff debut, Memphis’ Dillon Brooks set a franchise file by scoring 31 factors in his first playoff recreation. Brooks was the fourth Grizzlies participant to attain 30 or extra factors in a postseason recreation, the primary since Mike Conley in 2017.

The eighth-seeded Grizzlies, who beat San Antonio and Golden State within the play-in event to make the playoff area, beat the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz 112-109. Brooks scored 14 factors on 7-of-10 taking pictures within the third quarter as Memphis took management of the sport.

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Dillon Brooks offers the Grizzlies a 112-109 lead as he takes the inbound move and slips across the protection to attain a straightforward clutch layup.

Brooks’ teammate Morant was no slouch in his playoff debut, scoring 26 factors on 11-of-21 taking pictures, together with 10 factors within the fourth quarter, his fifth straight recreation in double figures within the fourth quarter.

Morant and Brooks have been the fourth pair of teammates taking part in of their first playoff recreation to succeed in 25 factors, and the primary since 2005.

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