Devin Booker unfazed by Nuggets 0-2 series lead: ‘I love it’

Even going down 0-2 on their second-round series against the Denver Nuggets, Devin Booker isn’t sweating that much as they look to respond in Game 3 back home in Phoenix.

The Suns’ star insisted that this early upper hand posted by the Nuggets is considerably a blessing in disguise for them to test their capabilities as a contending group.

“I love it,” Booker said when asked about the team’s confidence level now facing a 0-2 deficit after the 97-87 loss, per Kellan Olson of Arizona Sports. “I just love playoff basketball. That’s the first thing I said when I got in the locker room. You just have to love this [expletive], embrace it. There’s not many people that get the chance to do what we’re doing playing the highest level of basketball. 

“Compete at the highest level, don’t forget to have fun with it (and) just get after it every chance we get.”

Before their Conference Semis started, many viewed the Suns as the favorites to emerge. But what happened in the last two games only defined the Nuggets’ stronghold as title contenders of their own.

In Saturday Game 1, they were torched by Jamal Murray’s 34-point outing. And in the recent Game 2 on Monday, they were overwhelmed by the all-around brilliance of Nikola Jokic.

What’s even worse is that Chris Paul took a premature exit on the Monday loss with an apparent left groin tightness. His status in Game 3 remains up in the air, but the said injury by the future hall of famer is certainly a major blow for Phoenix’s intent to remain on a course of still competing for a championship this year and survive Denver’s initial series edge.

“It’s an unfortunate event obviously,” Booker said of Paul. “All we can do is hope he has a speedy recovery. We’re going to be behind him. We’re going to hold it down while he’s out.”

With Friday set to test them for the continuation of the series, Booker and the Suns can only hope that they’ll be able to be back on track and defend their home floor.