Upstart Suns knock off Philadelphia
Durant helps lead Nets over Warriors
PHOENIX — Devin Booker lost plenty of games in his first five NBA seasons. That’s part of what makes these past few weeks even more sweet.
Booker scored 36 points, Chris Paul added 18 points and 10 assists and the rising Phoenix Suns beat the Philadelphia 76ers 120-111 on Saturday for their fifth straight victory.
“It’s so nice, man,” Booker said. “We’re deep. I feel like we’re 15 deep. Everyone can play and everyone’s ready to go.”
The Suns have won eight of their past nine games and improved to 16-9. They got a big game from their bench against Philadelphia, especially from Dario Saric, who scored 15 points in his first game back after missing 13 straight.
Saric missed about a month because he was in the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol and also dealt with a sore ankle.
“Now to be finally back, play with this group of guys who are really talented and positive minded, it’s just a pleasure,” Saric said.
Joel Embiid had 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting for the Sixers, who have lost two in a row but still hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference at 18-9. Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris both added 18 points.
The game was tied 53-all at halftime after a tight second quarter when there were nine lead changes and five ties. Booker took control in the third quarter, when he scored 16 points to give Phoenix an 86-81 lead going into the fourth.
Saric and Jae Crowder each hit 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter and extend the Suns’ lead to 92-81. The closest the Sixers would get was 102-97 after Embiid’s bucket with 5 1/2 minutes remaining. The Suns had an 11-2 run that gave them a 113-99 lead with 3:15 left to close out the win.
The 76ers’ offense wasn’t great down the stretch but the real problem was defense. Phoenix shot 60.8% from the field and got 49 points from the bench.
“We know we’re not going to stop teams every possession, teams are going to score, but we’ve got to make it tough,” Simmons said.
Booker has scored 30-plus points in each of the last three games overall and has scored 30-plus in each of his last seven games against Philadelphia. That is the longest streak ever by a Suns player against a single opponent.
“More than anything, Devin will take the wins over stats every time and that’s what I love about him,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “He and I are growing with our relationship and communication. He’s just scratching the surface.”
NETS 134, WARRIORS 117: In San Francisco, Kevin Durant won his long-anticipated first trip back to the Bay Arena to play the Warriors team he helped capture two titles over three years, scoring 20 points in Brooklyn’s victory over Golden State.
The NBA Finals MVP in both title runs, Durant missed his initial three shots before knocking down a 3-pointer at the 5:49 mark of the first quarter and finished 8 for 19 from the floor and 1 of 6 on 3s.
Pal Stephen Curry didn’t have his best stroke either, going 10 of 17 for 27 points and 2 for 9 from deep as cold-shooting Golden State lost its third straight to the Nets.