Devin Booker scores 35 points, Kevin Durant adds 24 to help the Suns beat the Rockets, 110-105
PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix All-Star Devin Booker and Houston rookie Cam Whitmore got into a minor scuffle midway through the fourth quarter Thursday night and both players were called for a technical foul.
With a couple big blocks on the ensuing possession, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was there to back his star teammate.
Booker scored 35 points, Kevin Durant added 24 and the Suns held off the Rockets 110-105, with the teams set to meet again in Phoenix on Saturday night.
Nurkic had 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks before fouling out. His biggest moment came in the fourth, when he stuffed Whitmore twice on the possession following the scuffle, drawing huge roars from the Phoenix crowd.
“Very important - that's the team sticking together,” Booker said. “That goes a long way. That's what you need when things get tough, it gets to the thick of things and the energy is high. You want to know you have people on your team that are built like that.”
Booker scored 20 points in the first quarter to help give the Suns an 18-point lead they would never relinquish. He has scored at least 20 points in an NBA-high six quarters this season.
Three-time All-Star Bradley Beal missed his fifth straight game because of a hamstring injury.
The Suns took an 86-75 lead into the final quarter. Houston cut the advantage to six midway through the fourth, but Booker responded immediately with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine.
That led to the brief skirmish between Booker and Whitmore. Tempers stayed hot over the next few minutes - Houston's Alperen Sengun fouled out and then got two quick technicals, earning an ejection.
Booker hit both of the technical free throws, Nurkic followed with his two free throws from Sengun's foul, and that pushed the Suns' lead to 99-84. The Rockets would cut the lead to four with 16.9 seconds left, but Royce O'Neale hit two free throws to end the threat.
Jalen Green led Houston with 34 points. Fred VanVleet added 21. The Rockets connected on just 11 of 45 3-pointers and shot 33.3% from the field overall, which was their worst percentage of the season.
“It wasn't one of our better nights as far as guys getting open looks and making the extra pass,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We had a few guys who had it going, but a few guys who were struggling.”
Phoenix has won seven of its past 10 - and nine in a row at home - as it tries to stay in the top six of the Western Conference playoff race and avoid the play-in tournament. The sliding Rockets have lost eight of 10.
“We're getting confident in this building,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.
Booker's big first quarter pushed the Suns to a 33-17 lead. The four-time All-Star made 8 of 10 shots from the field, including a 33-foot 3-pointer in the final seconds.
Phoenix settled for a 64-53 halftime lead. Booker had 26 points before the break while Green led Houston with 21.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Alperen Sengun vs. Jusuf Nurkic (Devin Booker gains possession) | ||
| 11:46 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 0-2 |
| 11:21 |  | Fred VanVleet misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:19 | | Devin Booker defensive rebound | ||
| 11:02 | | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:00 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point jump shot | ||
| 10:41 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 10:32 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 10:28 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point running jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 3-2 |
| 10:07 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving hook shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 3-4 |
| 9:55 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:52 | | Devin Booker defensive rebound | ||
| 9:47 | | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 3-7 |
| 9:30 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point pullup jump shot | 5-7 |
| 9:15 | | Fred VanVleet blocks Devin Booker's two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:15 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Royce O'Neale steals) | ||
| 9:08 | | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 5-10 |
| 8:53 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 8-10 |
| 8:41 | | Jabari Smith Jr. personal foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | ||
| 8:36 | | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | ||
| 8:36 | | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-11 |
| 8:36 | | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-12 |
| 8:24 | | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 8:24 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-12 |
| 8:24 | | +1 | Alperen Sengun makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 10-12 |
| 8:12 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 10-14 |
| 7:59 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point stepback jump shot | 12-14 |
| 7:38 | | Grayson Allen misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 7:35 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 7:27 | | Royce O'Neale blocks Fred VanVleet's two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 7:24 | | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | ||
| 7:18 | | Jusuf Nurkic misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:16 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:08 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point jump shot | ||
| 7:06 | | Devin Booker defensive rebound | ||
| 6:59 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving layup | 12-16 |
| 6:40 | | Jalen Green offensive foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 6:40 | | Jalen Green turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 6:40 | | Suns 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:33 | | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:30 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:16 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | ||
| 6:14 | | Jabari Smith Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 6:12 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:10 | | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 5:58 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:54 | | Kevin Durant offensive rebound | ||
| 5:53 | | Kevin Durant misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 5:52 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 5:40 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:38 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 5:25 | | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-19 |
| 5:01 | | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 4:55 | | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | ||
| 4:47 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (bad pass) (Royce O'Neale steals) | ||
| 4:42 | | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point running layup (Royce O'Neale assists) | 12-21 |
| 4:27 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:25 | | Dillon Brooks offensive rebound | ||
| 4:20 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (traveling) | ||
| 4:14 | | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 12-24 |
| 3:49 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 3:47 | | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | ||
| 3:44 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 3:40 | | Amen Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 3:35 | | Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:32 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 3:18 | | Royce O'Neale misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 3:15 | | Royce O'Neale offensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:11 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 3:05 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 3:05 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 3:00 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:58 | | Suns defensive rebound | ||
| 2:58 | | Cam Whitmore personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 2:58 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:51 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 2:40 | | Drew Eubanks turnover (3-second violation) | ||
| 2:24 | | Jeff Green misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 2:21 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 2:11 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 12-26 |
| 2:02 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:00 | | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | ||
| 1:44 | | +2 | Saben Lee makes two point driving reverse layup (Royce O'Neale assists) | 12-28 |
| 1:33 | | Cam Whitmore misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 1:32 | | Amen Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 1:32 | | Amen Thompson misses two point tip layup | ||
| 1:32 | | Bol Bol defensive rebound | ||
| 1:28 | | Amen Thompson shooting foul (Saben Lee draws the foul) | ||
| 1:28 | | +1 | Saben Lee makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-29 |
| 1:28 | | +1 | Saben Lee makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-30 |
| 1:13 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:10 | | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | ||
| 0:58 | | Devin Booker offensive foul (Aaron Holiday draws the foul) | ||
| 0:58 | | Devin Booker turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 0:43 | | Bol Bol shooting foul (Jabari Smith Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 0:43 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-30 |
| 0:43 | | +1 | Jabari Smith Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-30 |
| 0:32 | | Devin Booker misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:29 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 0:10 | | +3 | Jeff Green makes three point jump shot (Aaron Holiday assists) | 17-30 |
| 0:04 | | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 17-33 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:53 | | Bol Bol shooting foul (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | ||
| 11:53 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-33 |
| 11:53 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-33 |
| 11:38 | | Drew Eubanks turnover (lost ball) (Jabari Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 11:33 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point running finger roll layup (Alperen Sengun assists) | 21-33 |
| 11:24 | | Amen Thompson personal foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 11:17 | | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 21-35 |
| 10:57 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:54 | | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | ||
| 10:35 | | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point cutting dunk (Kevin Durant assists) | 21-37 |
| 10:22 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:19 | | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point pullup jump shot | 21-40 |
| 10:12 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:53 | | Cam Whitmore turnover (bad pass) (Josh Okogie steals) | ||
| 9:43 | | Kevin Durant turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:34 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:30 | | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | ||
| 9:19 | | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point pullup jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 21-42 |
| 8:58 | | Bol Bol shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 8:58 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-42 |
| 8:58 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-42 |
| 8:37 | | Cam Whitmore blocks Josh Okogie's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 8:36 | | Josh Okogie offensive rebound | ||
| 8:34 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:31 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 8:20 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 26-42 |
| 8:05 | | Kevin Durant turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Green steals) | ||
| 8:03 | | +2 | Jalen Green makes two point running dunk | 28-42 |
| 7:49 | | +3 | Josh Okogie makes three point jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 28-45 |
| 7:38 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 31-45 |
| 7:21 | | Josh Okogie misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:18 | | Dillon Brooks defensive rebound | ||
| 7:14 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point running finger roll layup | 33-45 |
| 7:13 | | Suns 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:00 | | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 33-47 |
| 6:45 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 36-47 |
| 6:31 | | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting dunk (Kevin Durant assists) | 36-49 |
| 6:08 | | Jalen Green turnover (lost ball) (Royce O'Neale steals) | ||
| 6:04 | | Kevin Durant misses two point running dunk | ||
| 6:02 | | Devin Booker offensive rebound | ||
| 5:53 | | Kevin Durant misses two point jump shot | ||
| 5:49 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 5:43 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point turnaround hook shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 38-49 |
| 5:34 | | Alperen Sengun personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | ||
| 5:26 | | Devin Booker misses two point driving layup | ||
| 5:26 | | Jabari Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 5:21 | | Jalen Green turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 5:17 | | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point cutting layup (Royce O'Neale assists) | 38-51 |
| 5:17 | | Alperen Sengun shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | ||
| 5:17 | | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 38-52 |
| 5:00 | | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:00 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:47 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 4:45 | | Bol Bol defensive rebound | ||
| 4:37 | | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Saben Lee assists) | 38-55 |
| 4:36 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:28 | | +3 | Fred VanVleet makes three point pullup jump shot | 41-55 |
| 4:12 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:09 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 4:04 | | Jabari Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:01 | | Fred VanVleet offensive rebound |