Western Conference-leading Suns hand Spurs 11th loss in row
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Deandre Ayton had 25 points and 10 rebounds and the Phoenix Suns overwhelmed San Antonio 133-95 on Sunday, handing the Spurs their 11th straight loss.
San Antonio fell behind by 30 points in the second quarter and is now two losses shy of the franchise's worst skid set in 1989.
Devin Booker and Mikal Bridges each had 20 points to help Western Conference-leading Phoenix win for the seventh time in eight games.
The Suns had a season-high 38 assists, shot 52% from the field and were 19 of 37 on 3-pointers.
''Just reading the defense and taking what the defense gives us,'' Booker said. ''Everybody shares the ball on this team. They threw a lot of blitzes and different type of defenses out there. Just get off the ball. The ball always moves faster than the defender.''
Keldon Johnson has 27 points for the Spurs, who have not won since Nov. 11. Devin Vassell added 14 points and Keita Bates-Diop had 12.
San Antonio was without coach Gregg Popovich for the second straight game with what the team termed a minor medical procedure. Popovich is expected to return Thursday in a home game against Houston.
Popovich is not texting San Antonio assistant coach Brett Brown with coaching advice during his absence.
''It hasn't gotten to that,'' Brown said earlier.
Not that it would have helped the beleaguered Spurs against the Suns.
San Antonio was without starters Jakob Poeltl and Jeremy Sochan and key reserves Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson.
The matchup went as expected between the Western Conference's best record and its worst.
San Antonio's 11 points in the second quarter were a season low for any period. The Spurs committed seven turnovers and were 5 for 20 from the field in the period.
''I thought the second period in general we were having a hard time getting stops mostly,'' Brown said. ''Their ability to get inside the paint, and then they had drop-off pass after drop-off pass after drop-off pass to their big guys. When you ask, `How did it happen?'''
''It's just that we got beat on the first line of our defense. We had to rotate, and we didn't have that second piece to the puzzle of one more rotation. Our front door was way to open,'' he said.
The Spurs tied a season low with 41 points in the first half. Phoenix's 71 points were the most given up by San Antonio in the first half this season.
Dario Saric added a season-high 17 points in his second start this season.
Ayton and Saric combined to shoot 16 for 22 from the field along with 13 rebounds.
''I think today's NBA is usually four guards and one big and switching, a lot of switching,'' Saric said. ''You don't change the defensive tactics all the time, but you need the two bigs down the stretch.''
TIP-INS
Suns: PG Chris Paul missed his 13th straight game with a sore right heel. . Bridges was 6 for 7 on 3-pointers, matching a career high for 3s. . F Torrey Craig missed the game with a strained right groin.
Spurs: Hall of Fame forward Tim Duncan was honored during the first half as part of San Antonio's 50th anniversary celebration. Duncan surprised the crowd with an appearance after highlights were shown of his 19-year career, including his five NBA championships with the Spurs.
UP NEXT
Suns: At Dallas on Monday night.
Spurs: Host Houston on Thursday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Deandre Ayton vs. Zach Collins (Keldon Johnson gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point pullup jump shot | 0-2 |
| 11:27 |  | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:23 | | Zach Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 11:12 | | +3 | Devin Vassell makes three point jump shot (Zach Collins assists) | 0-5 |
| 10:58 | | Devin Booker turnover (lost ball) (Tre Jones steals) | ||
| 10:54 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point running layup | 0-7 |
| 10:39 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 2-7 |
| 10:22 | | Zach Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:18 | | Dario Saric defensive rebound | ||
| 10:11 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point cutting layup (Devin Booker assists) | 4-7 |
| 9:54 | | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point cutting dunk (Zach Collins assists) | 4-9 |
| 9:46 | | Devin Booker turnover (traveling) | ||
| 9:36 | | Zach Collins offensive foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 9:36 | | Zach Collins turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:23 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 9:18 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 9:13 | | Devin Vassell turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:56 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 8:53 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 8:47 | | Deandre Ayton personal foul (Zach Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 8:30 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:24 | | Zach Collins offensive rebound | ||
| 8:24 | | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point putback layup | 4-11 |
| 8:09 | | Devin Booker misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 8:08 | | Dario Saric offensive rebound | ||
| 8:08 | | +2 | Dario Saric makes two point putback layup | 6-11 |
| 8:08 | | Keldon Johnson shooting foul (Dario Saric draws the foul) | ||
| 8:08 | | +1 | Dario Saric makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-11 |
| 7:47 | | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 7:47 | | Suns defensive rebound | ||
| 7:35 | | Devin Booker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:34 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 7:31 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point cutting dunk (Devin Booker assists) | 9-11 |
| 7:17 | | Zach Collins turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 7:08 | | Zach Collins personal foul (Deandre Ayton draws the foul) | ||
| 7:06 | | Charles Bassey shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 7:06 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 10-11 |
| 7:06 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-11 |
| 6:48 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving floating jump shot | 11-13 |
| 6:32 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:18 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 13-13 |
| 5:56 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point pullup jump shot | 13-15 |
| 5:44 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point layup | ||
| 5:41 | | Deandre Ayton offensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | +2 | Deandre Ayton makes two point putback layup | 15-15 |
| 5:36 | | Charles Bassey offensive foul (Cameron Payne draws the foul) | ||
| 5:36 | | Charles Bassey turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:17 | | Cameron Payne misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:13 | | Charles Bassey defensive rebound | ||
| 5:07 | | Keldon Johnson misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:05 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:03 | | Romeo Langford shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 5:03 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-15 |
| 5:03 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-15 |
| 4:45 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point pullup jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 17-17 |
| 4:33 | | +2 | Cameron Payne makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-17 |
| 4:17 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point pullup jump shot | 19-19 |
| 4:07 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving dunk | 21-19 |
| 3:53 | | Cameron Payne personal foul (Romeo Langford draws the foul) | ||
| 3:53 | | Romeo Langford misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 3:53 | | Spurs offensive rebound | ||
| 3:53 | | +1 | Romeo Langford makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-20 |
| 3:40 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Deandre Ayton assists) | 24-20 |
| 3:17 | | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:13 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 3:10 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point running layup (Mikal Bridges assists) | 26-20 |
| 3:10 | | Isaiah Roby shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 3:10 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 27-20 |
| 2:56 | | +2 | Romeo Langford makes two point driving layup | 27-22 |
| 2:42 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:42 | | Spurs defensive rebound | ||
| 2:42 | | Ish Wainright personal foul (Loose ball) (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | ||
| 2:42 | | Suns 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:28 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving hook shot (Isaiah Roby assists) | 27-24 |
| 2:11 | | Isaiah Roby shooting foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 2:11 | | Jock Landale misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 2:11 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | +1 | Jock Landale makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 28-24 |
| 1:57 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:53 | | Damion Lee defensive rebound | ||
| 1:40 | | Damion Lee misses two point driving layup | ||
| 1:35 | | Jock Landale offensive rebound | ||
| 1:35 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point tip layup | 30-24 |
| 1:30 | | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving floating jump shot | 30-26 |
| 1:24 | | Malaki Branham personal foul (Landry Shamet draws the foul) | ||
| 1:24 | | +1 | Landry Shamet makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-26 |
| 1:24 | | +1 | Landry Shamet makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-26 |
| 1:15 | | Landry Shamet personal foul (Isaiah Roby draws the foul) | ||
| 1:13 | | Devin Booker shooting foul (Malaki Branham draws the foul) | ||
| 1:13 | | +1 | Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-27 |
| 1:13 | | +1 | Malaki Branham makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-28 |
| 1:02 | | +3 | Landry Shamet makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 35-28 |
| 0:52 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 35-30 |
| 0:32 | | Landry Shamet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 0:07 | | Devin Vassell misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 0:05 | | Jock Landale defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:00 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:43 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point layup (Josh Okogie assists) | 37-30 |
| 11:30 | | Tre Jones turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 11:16 | | Zach Collins personal foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 11:01 | | Landry Shamet misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 10:58 | | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | Devin Vassell turnover (bad pass) (Ish Wainright steals) | ||
| 10:53 | | Romeo Langford personal foul (Ish Wainright draws the foul) | ||
| 10:53 | | Ish Wainright misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:53 | | Suns offensive rebound | ||
| 10:42 | | Charles Bassey shooting foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 10:42 | | +1 | Jock Landale makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 38-30 |
| 10:42 | | +1 | Jock Landale makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 39-30 |
| 10:30 | | Devin Vassell misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:26 | | Landry Shamet defensive rebound | ||
| 10:19 | | Josh Okogie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:14 | | Damion Lee offensive rebound | ||
| 10:04 | | Jock Landale misses two point layup | ||
| 10:01 | | Malaki Branham defensive rebound | ||
| 9:55 | | Keita Bates-Diop misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 9:53 | | Damion Lee defensive rebound | ||
| 9:46 | | +2 | Josh Okogie makes two point driving floating jump shot (Damion Lee assists) | 41-30 |
| 9:46 | | Spurs 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:30 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Devin Vassell assists) | 41-32 |
| 9:14 | | +2 | Jock Landale makes two point dunk (Landry Shamet assists) | 43-32 |
| 8:51 | | Isaiah Roby misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:49 | | Damion Lee defensive rebound | ||
| 8:37 | | +2 | Landry Shamet makes two point driving finger roll layup (Ish Wainright assists) | 45-32 |
| 8:26 | | Isaiah Roby turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 8:10 | | Deandre Ayton misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 8:05 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | Alize Johnson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:54 | | Deandre Ayton defensive rebound | ||
| 7:50 | | Josh Okogie misses two point running layup | ||
| 7:47 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | Isaiah Roby misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 7:39 | | Tre Jones offensive rebound | ||
| 7:36 | | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 45-34 |
| 7:23 | | Cameron Payne misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:20 | | Alize Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 7:20 | | Tre Jones turnover (traveling) | ||
| 7:08 | | Cameron Payne misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:04 | | Gorgui Dieng defensive rebound | ||
| 7:00 | | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point driving layup | 45-36 |
| 6:46 | | +3 | Deandre Ayton makes three point jump shot (Cameron Payne assists) | 48-36 |
| 6:26 | | Tre Jones misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:24 | | Josh Okogie defensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | Damion Lee misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Mikal Bridges offensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point tip layup | ||
| 6:10 | | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | ||
| 6:06 | |