Devin Booker scored the game-high 37 points and Kevin Durant added 23 as the Phoenix Suns thwarted the Washington Wizards‘ late comeback for a 130-123 win Thursday.
This was Booker’s fourth straight game scoring more than 30. The Suns’ victory put them back at the .500 mark (20-20), and handed the struggling Wizards (6-33) their ninth consecutive loss.
Grayson Allen scored 21 points (8-of-12 FG, team-high five 3s) off the Suns’ bench. Ryan Dunn set the bar for himself with his career-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double. He shot a game-high 80%, and added one block. Tyus Jones barely missed his fifth double-double of the season contributing nine points, 10 assists, and game-high three steals.
The Wizards’ top performers were Kyshawn George (career-high 24 points, 80% FG, game-high six 3s), Jordan Poole (18 points), and their top rookie Alexandre Sarr (16 points, nine boards, two blocks, one steal).
The Suns had a double-digit lead for most of the game, including their largest lead 24 at one minute left in the third quarter. But the Wizards outscored them 40-26 in the fourth and cut the lead to three as George drained his sixth 3 at 1:06 remaining. Then Booker hit his fourth trey during the Suns’ ensuing possession to extend the lead to six and the Suns closed the game thereafter. The Suns gave up 29 points off 16 turnovers.
The Suns play next at the rising Detroit Pistons (21-19) on Saturday at 2 p.m., the third game of Phoenix’s five-game road trip.
Booker, Suns extend lead in 3rd quarter
Phoenix kept scorching Washington in the third, up 104-83 entering the final quarter.
Devin Booker reached the game-high 27 points, adding nine in the third quarter. Kevin Durant contributed 10 of his 23 points during the quarter. Allen had 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting. Ryan Dunn has been the Suns’ second-most efficient shooter, hitting 7-of-9 and matched his season-high 16 points.
The Wizards’ top scorers are Jordan Poole (18) and Bilal Coulibaly (13).
The Suns extended their largest lead to 24 on Durant’s jumpshot at one minute left. They’ve dished 28 assists on their 28 made shots, hitting a stellar 57.6% including 13-of-25 from 3.
Allen hot, Suns still ahead in 2nd quarter
Grayson Allen was on fire with 18 points (7-of-8 off the bench), and Phoenix remains in front 69-55 at halftime. Allen was five points away from his season-high and has hit four of the Suns’ nine 3s.
Devin Booker scored nine of his 18 points in the second quarter, Kevin Durant had 13 points, and Ryan Dunn put up all 12 of his points in the second. The Wizards’ top scorer is Jordan Poole with 14.
After the Suns went up 38-23 from Booker’s mid-range jumpshot at 11:04, the Wizards struck back on a 11-2 run over the next two minutes, cutting the lead to six. Allen quickly answered the Wizards with his 5-0 run from his third trey and a steal off Kyle Kuzma and fast-break dunk to push the lead to 11 at 8:27. The Suns have shot 62.8% overall, including 56.3% off their 16 attempts from deep. The Wizards have shot 47.7% and a paltry 28.6% on their 21 tries from 3.
The Suns reached their largest lead 20 after Durant’s floater at around three minutes left. Then the Wizards went on a 11-0 run from 2:35 until the 59 second mark. Phoenix committed seven of their nine turnovers in the second quarter, including four in the final 2:40, and have allowed 18 points off those giveaways.
Suns surge behind Booker, Durant, Allen in 1st quarter
Phoenix rolled to a 34-21 lead to close the opening period. They were driven by the hot shooting of Grayson Allen’s game-high 10 points (4-of-5, two 3s) off the bench and Devin Booker’s and Kevin Durant’s nine points each. Booker shot 3-of-5 and Durant was 3-of-4.
Jordan Poole leads the Wizards with nine points.
The Suns jumped out to an 18-3 lead, including their 11-0 run to start the game, and reached their largest lead of 16 twice after 4:21 left in the quarter.
Starting lineups
The Suns are starting Durant, Booker, Tyus Jones, Ryan Dunn and Mason Plumlee.
The Wizards are opening with Jordan Poole, Carlton Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyle Kuzma and last year’s No. 2 overall draft pick Alexander Sarr.
Suns’ Nurkic still out sick
Phoenix’s reserve big Jusuf Nurkic (illness) is out for the third straight game after catching the flu. Coach Mike Budenholzer said before the Atlanta game that Nurkic might join the Suns for the final game of their road trip against Brooklyn next Wednesday. Before his absence, Nurkic was removed from the starting lineup.
The Wizards’ Marvin Bagley III (knee) and Malcolm Brogdon (foot) are out.
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In a thrilling matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Washington Wizards, Devin Booker and Kevin Durant put on a show, combining for 60 points to lead the Suns to a nail-biting victory. Despite a late comeback attempt by the Wizards, the Suns held on for the win, thanks to the stellar performances of Booker and Durant.
Booker, known for his scoring prowess, poured in 30 points, while Durant added 30 of his own to lead the Suns to victory. Their dynamic scoring duo proved to be too much for the Wizards to handle, as they struggled to contain the offensive firepower of Booker and Durant.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets throughout. However, it was the Suns who were able to make the crucial plays down the stretch to secure the win. Despite the Wizards’ late comeback attempt, the Suns’ defense held strong, ultimately sealing the victory.
With Booker and Durant leading the charge, the Suns look poised to make a deep playoff run this season. Their combination of scoring ability and leadership will be crucial as they look to compete with the top teams in the league. Suns fans can be excited about the potential of this dynamic duo leading their team to success.
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