Devin Booker scores 34 points, Suns hold off Trail Blazers 127-116
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Devin Booker had 34 points and the Phoenix Suns held off the Portland Trail Blazers 127-116 on Sunday night for their second straight victory.
Bradley Beal added 23 points, Kevin Durant had 21 and Grayson Allen 20. The Suns, whose biggest lead was 17 points, let Portland narrow the gap to four points midway through the final quarter.
Rookie Scoot Henderson had a career-high 33 points and nine assists for the short-handed Trail Blazers. They have lost four straight and eight of 10. The skid includes a 139-77 loss at Oklahoma City that tied for the fifth-worst setback in NBA history.
Henderson had a fast-break layup and Rayan Rupert added a 3-pointer to pull Portland to 111-107 with 6:33 left, but the Suns answered with a 10-2 run and the Trail Blazers couldn't get any closer.
“We just got sloppy with the basketball,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “When you have a lead in the fourth the other team is going to turn up the pressure, and we’ve got to handle it better than we did tonight.”
Beal agreed.
“I think the biggest thing is just staying aggressive,” Beal said. “Too passive, too lax, too comfortable - just be aggressive man, keep putting our foot on the gas. Close out games a lot better than we have.”
Booker was 14 of 22 from the field - with five of the misses coming on 1-of-6 3-point shooting - and made all five of his free throws. He also had seven assists and six rebounds and no turnovers.
Portland had just eight available players. The Blazers announced before the game that Jerami Grant and Matisse Thybulle would not play because of illness.
They joined an already sizable list of unavailable players, among them Deandre Ayton (knee) Ibou Badji (hip) Malcolm Brogdon (adductor soreness) and Shaedon Sharpe (adductor soreness).
Portland coach Chauncey Billups said Ayton, who played for the Suns before coming to the Blazers in the offseason, is close to a return. He has missed 11 games.
“We were incredibly undermanned, obviously, in the game, but I told the guys, `Play fast, play fun, share the ball and help each other on defense. Just play free.′ And they did that and it was just fun,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. "It was fun watching them, it was fun coaching. So many guys played well.
The Suns were without Bol Bol, who was sore after practice Saturday and will be reevaluated Monday.
Phoenix was coming off a 127-109 road victory over the Lakers on Thursday night.
Despite the absences, Portland led by 33-26 in the first quarter after Rupert's 3-pointer. It was close until the Suns began to pull away midway through the second quarter, when Allen's running 3-pointer put Phoenix up 57-49.
The Suns went into the half ahead 71-62, led by Allen and Booker with 15 points apiece.
Allen's 3-pointer gave Phoenix a 100-85 lead in the third quarter and Booker scored 15 of his points during the period.
Anfernee Simons' 3-pointer closed the gap for Portland to 106-95 early in the final period. The Blazers got within single digits when Rupert's 3-pointer made it 109-102 with 8:29 left.
Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded from the Blazers to the Suns last summer, finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
It was the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season. The Suns won three.
The crowd for the game was spotty due to wintery weather in Portland that shut down the city's light rail system.
UP NEXT
Suns: Host Sacramento on Tuesday night.
Trail Blazers: Host Brooklyn on Wednesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jusuf Nurkic vs. Duop Reath (Bradley Beal gains possession) | |||
11:38 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point cutting layup | |||
11:36 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
11:36 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point putback layup | 2-0 | |
11:21 | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 2-3 | |
11:01 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
10:59 | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | |||
10:45 | Devin Booker shooting foul (Jabari Walker draws the foul) | |||
10:45 | Jabari Walker misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:45 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
10:45 | +1 | Jabari Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-4 | |
10:32 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 4-4 | |
10:17 | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
10:15 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Scoot Henderson personal foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
9:56 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | |||
9:56 | Jusuf Nurkic turnover (offensive foul) | |||
9:45 | Scoot Henderson misses three point jump shot | |||
9:43 | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | |||
9:41 | +2 | Jabari Walker makes two point turnaround jump shot | 4-6 | |
9:27 | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 7-6 | |
9:10 | Duop Reath misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
9:09 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
9:01 | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 10-6 | |
8:47 | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point pullup jump shot | 10-9 | |
8:28 | Kevin Durant misses two point jump shot | |||
8:26 | Duop Reath defensive rebound | |||
8:15 | Scoot Henderson misses two point reverse layup | |||
8:15 | Scoot Henderson offensive rebound | |||
8:15 | Scoot Henderson misses two point tip layup | |||
8:15 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
8:12 | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 10-12 | |
8:00 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 13-12 | |
7:50 | Anfernee Simons misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
7:47 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
7:40 | Kevin Durant misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
7:36 | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | |||
7:29 | +3 | Duop Reath makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 13-15 | |
7:15 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 15-15 | |
6:55 | +3 | Scoot Henderson makes three point jump shot (Duop Reath assists) | 15-18 | |
6:44 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:41 | Jabari Walker defensive rebound | |||
6:36 | +2 | Kris Murray makes two point running dunk (Scoot Henderson assists) | 15-20 | |
6:36 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:21 | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 18-20 | |
6:03 | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
6:00 | Duop Reath offensive rebound | |||
6:00 | +2 | Duop Reath makes two point tip layup | 18-22 | |
5:54 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
5:51 | Kevin Durant offensive rebound | |||
5:48 | Bradley Beal turnover (bad pass) (Kris Murray steals) | |||
5:37 | Bradley Beal technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
5:37 | +1 | Duop Reath makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 18-23 | |
5:28 | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:26 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-23 | |
4:56 | Jabari Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
4:55 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Grayson Allen personal foul (Loose ball) (Kris Murray draws the foul) | |||
4:43 | Grayson Allen blocks Duop Reath's two point layup | |||
4:43 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
4:40 | Duop Reath misses three point bank jump shot | |||
4:36 | Scoot Henderson offensive rebound | |||
4:31 | +2 | Duop Reath makes two point driving reverse layup (Scoot Henderson assists) | 20-25 | |
4:21 | Justin Minaya personal foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
4:16 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:13 | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | |||
4:03 | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-27 | |
3:53 | Jabari Walker shooting foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
3:53 | Jusuf Nurkic misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:53 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
3:53 | +1 | Jusuf Nurkic makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-27 | |
3:43 | Kris Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
3:41 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
3:37 | Justin Minaya personal foul (Jusuf Nurkic draws the foul) | |||
3:30 | Rayan Rupert shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
3:30 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-27 | |
3:30 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-27 | |
3:12 | +3 | Duop Reath makes three point jump shot (Rayan Rupert assists) | 23-30 | |
2:51 | Drew Eubanks misses two point bank hook shot | |||
2:49 | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | |||
2:38 | Duop Reath misses two point driving bank hook shot | |||
2:37 | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | |||
2:37 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
2:29 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
2:25 | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | |||
2:16 | Kris Murray turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
2:00 | Bradley Beal misses two point jump shot | |||
1:58 | Justin Minaya defensive rebound | |||
1:55 | Devin Booker personal foul (Duop Reath draws the foul) | |||
1:45 | Anfernee Simons misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
1:43 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
1:37 | +3 | Chimezie Metu makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 26-30 | |
1:22 | +3 | Rayan Rupert makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 26-33 | |
1:02 | Devin Booker misses three point jump shot | |||
1:00 | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | |||
0:37 | Chimezie Metu blocks Anfernee Simons's two point turnaround jump shot | |||
0:35 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
0:32 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point running pullup jump shot | 28-33 | |
0:32 | Justin Minaya shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
0:32 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-33 | |
0:13 | Anfernee Simons turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
0:01 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 31-33 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:49 | +2 | Scoot Henderson makes two point driving reverse layup (Toumani Camara assists) | 31-35 | |
11:26 | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point jump shot (Eric Gordon assists) | 34-35 | |
11:08 | Chimezie Metu blocks Scoot Henderson's two point driving reverse layup | |||
11:05 | Chimezie Metu defensive rebound | |||
10:50 | Kevin Durant turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
10:34 | Rayan Rupert misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:34 | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | |||
10:23 | Kris Murray turnover (traveling) | |||
10:10 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot | 36-35 | |
9:51 | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot (Toumani Camara assists) | 36-38 | |
9:41 | Anfernee Simons kicked ball violation | |||
9:35 | Bradley Beal misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:33 | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | |||
9:21 | Anfernee Simons turnover (bad pass) (Bradley Beal steals) | |||
9:18 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point running dunk (Eric Gordon assists) | 38-38 | |
9:18 | Toumani Camara shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
9:18 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 39-38 | |
9:03 | Rayan Rupert turnover (bad pass) (Chimezie Metu steals) | |||
8:50 | +2 | Chimezie Metu makes two point cutting dunk (Keita Bates-Diop assists) | 41-38 | |
8:42 | Scoot Henderson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:41 | Toumani Camara offensive rebound | |||
8:41 | +2 | Toumani Camara makes two point putback layup | 41-40 | |
8:41 | Chimezie Metu defensive goaltending violation | |||
8:27 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
8:24 | Kris Murray defensive rebound | |||
8:13 | +3 | Kris Murray makes three point jump shot (Scoot Henderson assists) | 41-43 | |
7:54 | Anfernee Simons personal foul (Eric Gordon draws the foul) | |||
7:49 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 44-43 | |
7:35 | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving dunk | 44-45 | |
7:23 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point driving floating jump shot | 46-45 | |
7:06 | Jusuf Nurkic personal foul (Kris Murray draws the foul) | |||
6:57 | +2 | Anfernee Simons makes two point driving bank hook shot | 46-47 | |
6:44 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
6:41 | Keita Bates-Diop offensive rebound | |||
6:40 | +2 | Keita Bates-Diop makes two point putback dunk | 48-47 | |
6:31 | Bradley Beal shooting foul (Scoot Henderson draws the foul) | |||
6:31 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
6:31 | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 48-48 | |
6:31 | +1 | Scoot Henderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-49 | |
6:17 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting layup (Keita Bates-Diop assists) | 50-49 | |
6:01 | Scoot Henderson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:00 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:54 | Justin Minaya shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
5:54 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-49 | |
5:54 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-49 | |
5:39 | Jabari Walker misses two point floating jump shot | |||
5:37 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:29 | Anfernee Simons shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
5:29 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 53-49 | |
5:29 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-49 | |
5:20 | Scoot Henderson misses two point driving dunk | |||
5:18 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
5:15 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point running jump shot (Keita Bates-Diop assists) | 57-49 | |
5:13 | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | |||
4:52 | Kris Murray turnover (bad pass) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
4:49 | Kris Murray shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
4:49 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 58-49 | |
4:49 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 59-49 | |
4:34 | Grayson Allen blocks Anfernee Simons's two point driving hook shot | |||
4:32 | Eric Gordon defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point running layup (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 61-49 | |
4:17 |