Booker looks to cap masterful March with win over Bucks

Six straight seasons missing the playoffs is a team record for the Phoenix Suns. At least Devin Booker's emergence has them feeling good heading into next season.

Booker looks to cap the highest scoring month by a Suns rookie in 38 years as they try to halt a three-game skid Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The game can be seen on FOX Sports Arizona, starting at 4:30 p.m.

Phoenix (20-54) has the NBA's third-worst record -- trailing only Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Lakers. Booker, the 13th pick out of Kentucky in last summer's draft, is turning into Phoenix's best offensive threat. He's averaging 13.3 points on the season to rank fifth all-time among Suns rookies, closing in on Amare' Stoudemire's 13.5 from 2002-03.

Booker is averaging 22.7 points in the month of March, the best production in a month by a Phoenix rookie since Walter Davis had 25.1 in March 1978. He's hoping to earn his first Western Conference Rookie of the Month honor, an award won by friend and former Wildcats teammate Karl-Anthony Towns of Minnesota in each month this season.

"I told him, 'Let me get one Rookie of the Month (award), at least,'" Booker told the team's official website. "He's taking all of them!"

Stoudemire is the last Suns rookie to win the award in April 2003, but Booker is making his case with 26.3 points per game over the last four. His 30 points weren't enough against the Timberwolves on Monday, however, as Towns countered with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in Minnesota's 121-116 win.

Brandon Knight matched Booker's 30 points while hitting a career-high seven 3-pointers. He's averaging 24.7 over his last three games. He is returning to Milwaukee for the first time since averaging 17.9 points over 124 games from 2013-15 before being dealt to Phoenix at last year's trade deadline.

Knight had nine points and Booker added seven off the bench in a 101-95 loss to the Bucks on Dec. 20. The Suns, though, have won seven of their last nine in Milwaukee.

The Bucks (30-44), who are also missing the playoffs, have dropped five games in a row after opening this five-game homestand with a 115-91 loss to Charlotte.

Like Booker for Phoenix, Giannis Antetokounmpo is giving Milwaukee hope for improvement in the future. The 21-year-old forward is averaging 16.6 points, ranking behind Kris Middleton's team-high 18.1.

Antetokounmpo missed the last meeting with the Suns with knee soreness, but Middleton had 27 points and seven assists.