Durant, Booker lead Suns to fifth straight win, beating skidding Warriors 123-115
PHOENIX (AP) The Phoenix Suns slogged through a technical-filled game that nearly ended in a turnover-filled nightmare.
In the end, it counted as their fifth straight win.
Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Devin Booker added 25, which was enough for the Suns, who nearly blew a 23-point lead in the second half of a 123-115 victory on Wednesday night.
The Suns had an 83-60 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Warriors managed to cut the advantage to 118-115 with 19 seconds left after Durant was called for a technical foul. Booker made a pair of free throws with 12.4 seconds left to thwart the rally.
“We have to do better,” Booker said. “Simple as that. We have to take care of the ball, no turnovers, get stops. When that game's at 10, 15 points in the fourth, don't give any team hope, don't gave any team confidence.”
Durant and Booker combined to go 28 for 29 on free throws. The Suns were 44 of 52 as a team.
The Warriors have lost seven of their past eight games, falling to 7-9 for the season.
“Foul, foul, foul, foul,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Can't win in the NBA if you're constantly trying to attack a set defense after free throws and you're basically giving up 44 points.”
Golden State point guard Chris Paul was ejected by referee Scott Foster in his return to the desert after receiving two technicals late in the second quarter for arguing. He finished with six points and six assists.
“I didn't think Chris deserved to be ejected," Kerr said. “The first tech? Absolutely. But I thought the second one was unnecessary. Everybody gets frustrated out there, but that's up to the official.”
Paul played the past three years for the Suns, helping the team advance to the NBA Finals in 2021. The 38-year-old was traded to the Wizards - and promptly dealt to the Warriors - as part of the trade that brought Bradley Beal to Phoenix during the offseason.
The Suns played a tribute video for Paul, a 12-time All-Star, before the game.
Klay Thompson led Golden State with 23 points, while Dario Saric added 17 and Stephen Curry had 16.
Phoenix led the entire second half, pushing its advantage to 83-60 on Eric Gordon’s free throw halfway through the third quarter. The Suns settled for a 16-point lead heading into the fourth.
It was a strange final quarter, with both teams playing mostly backups. Curry and Thompson were both on the bench as the Warriors made their late push, and Suns coach Frank Vogel was forced to put Booker and Durant back to close the game.
“Really proud of how our guys competed and took control of the game,” Vogel said. “Obviously, you want to close the game a little better. But that's not the first time I've had to put my starters back in.
“Not ideal, but really happy to get the win.”
The Warriors - playing without the suspended Draymond Green - took a 31-26 lead after one quarter. The Suns recovered quickly and took a 63-47 lead by halftime, partly thanks to three extra free throws as compensation for all of the Warriors' technical fouls.
UP NEXT
Warriors: Host San Antonio on Friday.
Suns: Travel to face Memphis on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Kevon Looney vs. Jusuf Nurkic (Devin Booker gains possession) | |||
11:39 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:37 | Andrew Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
11:22 | Grayson Allen personal foul (Kevon Looney draws the foul) | |||
11:15 | +3 | Klay Thompson makes three point jump shot (Stephen Curry assists) | 3-0 | |
11:01 | Eric Gordon misses two point driving layup | |||
11:00 | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | Klay Thompson misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
10:51 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Devin Booker misses two point running jump shot | |||
10:44 | Chris Paul defensive rebound | |||
10:34 | Andrew Wiggins misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
10:31 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
10:24 | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 3-3 | |
10:10 | Klay Thompson misses three point jump shot | |||
10:08 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
9:46 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
9:44 | Klay Thompson defensive rebound | |||
9:33 | Andrew Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
9:31 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
9:23 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
9:20 | Kevon Looney defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | Stephen Curry turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:57 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point dunk (Devin Booker assists) | 3-5 | |
8:35 | +3 | Klay Thompson makes three point jump shot (Stephen Curry assists) | 6-5 | |
8:19 | Jusuf Nurkic misses three point jump shot | |||
8:17 | Warriors defensive rebound | |||
8:17 | Devin Booker personal foul (Loose ball) (Andrew Wiggins draws the foul) | |||
8:08 | +2 | Chris Paul makes two point pullup jump shot | 8-5 | |
7:55 | Andrew Wiggins blocks Devin Booker's two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:55 | Klay Thompson defensive rebound | |||
7:44 | +2 | Klay Thompson makes two point driving layup (Chris Paul assists) | 10-5 | |
7:44 | Grayson Allen shooting foul (Klay Thompson draws the foul) | |||
7:44 | +1 | Klay Thompson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 11-5 | |
7:35 | Stephen Curry kicked ball violation | |||
7:28 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point driving layup | 11-7 | |
7:28 | Kevon Looney shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
7:28 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:26 | Josh Okogie offensive rebound | |||
7:25 | Klay Thompson shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
7:25 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-8 | |
7:25 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-9 | |
7:14 | +2 | Klay Thompson makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 13-9 | |
7:03 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-11 | |
6:50 | +3 | Stephen Curry makes three point jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 16-11 | |
6:48 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:39 | Dario Saric shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
6:39 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-12 | |
6:39 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-13 | |
6:26 | Andrew Wiggins misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:24 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Eric Gordon personal foul (Loose ball) (Moses Moody draws the foul) | |||
6:14 | Klay Thompson misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:11 | Klay Thompson offensive rebound | |||
6:08 | Klay Thompson turnover (lost ball) (Eric Gordon steals) | |||
6:00 | +2 | Nassir Little makes two point dunk (Eric Gordon assists) | 16-15 | |
5:42 | +3 | Dario Saric makes three point jump shot (Andrew Wiggins assists) | 19-15 | |
5:27 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point layup | |||
5:25 | Moses Moody defensive rebound | |||
5:08 | +2 | Stephen Curry makes two point floating jump shot | 21-15 | |
4:51 | +2 | Nassir Little makes two point driving layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 21-17 | |
4:51 | Warriors 60 second timeout | |||
4:40 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Stephen Curry draws the foul) | |||
4:40 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-17 | |
4:40 | +1 | Stephen Curry makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-17 | |
4:24 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
4:21 | Warriors defensive rebound | |||
4:09 | Stephen Curry misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:05 | Nassir Little defensive rebound | |||
3:51 | Dario Saric personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
3:41 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 23-19 | |
3:33 | Kevin Durant personal foul (Chris Paul draws the foul) | |||
3:33 | +1 | Chris Paul makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-19 | |
3:33 | +1 | Chris Paul makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-19 | |
3:10 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:10 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
3:10 | Moses Moody personal foul (Loose ball) (Josh Okogie draws the foul) | |||
3:10 | +1 | Josh Okogie makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-20 | |
3:10 | Josh Okogie misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:07 | Devin Booker offensive rebound | |||
3:04 | Nassir Little misses three point jump shot | |||
3:00 | Moses Moody defensive rebound | |||
2:43 | +2 | Dario Saric makes two point hook shot (Chris Paul assists) | 27-20 | |
2:30 | Dario Saric shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
2:30 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-21 | |
2:30 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-22 | |
2:20 | Brandin Podziemski misses three point jump shot | |||
2:16 | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | |||
2:11 | Brandin Podziemski personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
2:11 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-23 | |
2:11 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-24 | |
1:58 | Jonathan Kuminga misses three point jump shot | |||
1:54 | Brandin Podziemski offensive rebound | |||
1:42 | Jonathan Kuminga misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
1:39 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
1:31 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point pullup jump shot (Nassir Little assists) | 27-26 | |
1:02 | Moses Moody misses two point layup | |||
1:00 | Trayce Jackson-Davis offensive rebound | |||
0:53 | Drew Eubanks blocks Chris Paul's three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:49 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
0:43 | Devin Booker misses two point driving layup | |||
0:40 | Chris Paul defensive rebound | |||
0:36 | +2 | Jonathan Kuminga makes two point running layup (Chris Paul assists) | 29-26 | |
0:30 | Moses Moody shooting foul (Keita Bates-Diop draws the foul) | |||
0:30 | Keita Bates-Diop misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:30 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
0:30 | Keita Bates-Diop misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
0:28 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
0:09 | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Chris Paul draws the foul) | |||
0:09 | +1 | Chris Paul makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 30-26 | |
0:09 | +1 | Chris Paul makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-26 | |
0:08 | Kevin Durant turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
0:00 | Josh Okogie blocks Stephen Curry's three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:49 | Drew Eubanks blocks Jonathan Kuminga's two point cutting layup | |||
11:47 | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | |||
11:25 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving floating jump shot | 31-28 | |
10:58 | +3 | Klay Thompson makes three point jump shot (Chris Paul assists) | 34-28 | |
10:30 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point pullup jump shot (Nassir Little assists) | 34-31 | |
10:10 | Keita Bates-Diop shooting foul (Trayce Jackson-Davis draws the foul) | |||
10:10 | Trayce Jackson-Davis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:10 | Warriors offensive rebound | |||
10:10 | +1 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-31 | |
9:57 | Jonathan Kuminga shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
9:57 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-32 | |
9:57 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-33 | |
9:46 | Klay Thompson misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
9:43 | Nassir Little defensive rebound | |||
9:38 | +2 | Nassir Little makes two point running layup | 35-35 | |
9:25 | Chris Paul turnover (bad pass) (Keita Bates-Diop steals) | |||
9:19 | Keita Bates-Diop turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
8:55 | Klay Thompson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
8:52 | Nassir Little defensive rebound | |||
8:47 | Klay Thompson shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
8:47 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-36 | |
8:47 | Grayson Allen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:45 | Jonathan Kuminga defensive rebound | |||
8:32 | Klay Thompson turnover (bad pass) (Eric Gordon steals) |