Booker Surprised by 15 Free Throws in Suns' Win Over Hornets

Phoenix star Devin Booker was shocked by the number of foul calls he received in a victory over Charlotte.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker scored 30 points in a win over the Charlotte Hornets, with half of his points coming from the free-throw line as he made all 15 of his attempts. Booker was surprised by the number of foul calls he received, as he is often the target of physical play from defenders who try to limit his scoring.

Why it matters

Booker is one of the NBA's elite shooting guards, known for his perimeter scoring ability. However, he feels he doesn't always get the foul calls he deserves when driving to the basket and initiating contact. This game against the Hornets was an outlier, where Booker was rewarded for his aggression.

The details

Booker scored 30 points in the Suns' victory, with 15 of those points coming from the free-throw line. He was surprised by the number of foul calls, as the Hornets only had 15 free-throw attempts as a team. Booker acknowledged that he often faces physical play from defenders trying to limit his scoring, but he was pleased to be rewarded for his aggression in this particular game.

  • The Suns defeated the Hornets on Sunday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Devin Booker

A star shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns, known for his perimeter scoring ability and skill at drawing fouls.

Charlotte Hornets

An NBA team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, who had their winning streak snapped by the Suns.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like I get played like that the majority of nights. The scouting report is to be physical and keep your hands on me. It just depends on the officiating crews.”

— Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Player

“You still have to find ways to be effective even if it's not being called. I feel like I was fouled on a few more today, honestly, but I'm not going to complain about shooting 15 of them.”

— Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns Player

The takeaway

This game highlights the challenges Devin Booker faces as an elite scorer, where he often has to overcome physical play from defenders who try to limit his scoring. While he was surprised by the number of foul calls he received against the Hornets, it shows that when the officiating crew is attentive, Booker can be rewarded for his aggressive style of play.