33+30! Farewell, Booker! He is truly the Suns' primary core.

OMG~

In Game 3, Alexander shot 18 for 15, with an incredible ~83% shooting accuracy, exploding for 42 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists, leading the Thunder to a 121-109 victory over the Suns on the road. The series now stands at 3-0, giving them a commanding lead and securing the playoff point.

So far in this year's playoffs, Alexander averages 34.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 54.1%. He steps up to the free-throw line 12.7 times per game, converting 11.7 of those attempts. Despite considerable controversy, his capability is undeniable.

In contrast, the Suns' star player Booker has averaged only 20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in this year's playoffs, with shooting percentages of 44.7%, 28.6%, and 78.9% across three categories. His impact on the game is completely unable to match Alexander's explosive performance......

Moreover, currently Booker's offensive firepower within the Suns team ranks only third, trailing behind Jalen Green (averaging 21.3 points per game) and Dillon (averaging 27 points per game). Both players were sent to Phoenix by the Rockets during the Durant trade last summer offseason.

Particularly Dillon, initially thought to be just a trade add-on, he has become the Suns' new mainstay,scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists; 30 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist; and 33 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assists respectively in the past three playoff games.He must primarily defend the Thunder's most potent scorer Alexander while also serving as the most crucial offensive output point. His salary this season is $22.18 million, whereas Booker earns $53.20 million and Jalen Green $33.89 million.

Seeing Dillon's current performance, one wonders if the Rockets regret trading him? Currently trailing 0-3 against the Lakers, they face the same fate of being swept out of the playoffs as the Suns.

Of course, being eliminated by the reigning champion Thunder is not disgraceful for the Suns, and this season's achievements have already surpassed last season's (36-46, 11th in the West, missing the play-in tournament).

So far, the status of each matchup in the first round of this year's playoffs is as follows:

West: Thunder 3-0 Suns, Lakers 3-0 Rockets, Spurs 2-1 Trail Blazers, Nuggets 1-3 Timberwolves;

East: Pistons 1-2 Magic, Cavaliers 2-1 Raptors, Celtics 2-1 Philadelphia, Knicks 2-2 Hawks.