Booker scores 34, Suns roll to 132-100 win over Blazers
Devin Booker’s 17-footer to beat the halftime buzzer introduced the three,000 followers to their toes. His 3-pointer with two seconds remaining within the third quarter earned a fair larger roar from the socially distanced crowd.
Because of photographs like these, no heroics have been wanted within the fourth.
Booker took a seat on the bench and received snug. This one was over.
Booker scored 34 factors, Deandre Ayton added 19 and the Phoenix Suns saved rolling with a 132-100 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night time.
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There’s been some speak over the previous few months about whether or not Booker ought to earn his second straight All-Star choice. He actually regarded worthy in a dominant efficiency towards the Blazers.
Booker completed 12 of 17 from the sphere and hit each his 3-point makes an attempt. He was 8 for 8 on the free throw line.
“There’s no doubt about it,” Suns coach Monty Williams stated. “Nobody can debate Book’s not an All-Star, end of story.”
Said ahead Mikal Bridges: “You see what he does game in and game out: leads us to wins. He deserves it — that’s all I have to say.”
Phoenix has gained 9 of its previous 10 video games and put this one away late within the third quarter with a quick flurry. Booker made his 3-pointer with two seconds remaining after which — following a fast Portland turnover — Cam Johnson hit one other 3 on the buzzer to give the Suns a 100-71 lead.
The 32-point win was the Suns’ largest margin of victory this season.
“Everyone’s locked in,” Booker stated.
Portland has misplaced two straight following a six-game successful streak. The Suns improved to 20-10 on the season whereas the Trail Blazers fell to 18-12.
Booker poured in factors all night time, scoring 17 because the Suns pushed forward 32-26 within the first quarter. The sixth-year guard was up to 22 factors by halftime, together with an off-balance 17-footer on the buzzer that gave Phoenix a 63-54 benefit.
Damian Lillard led the Trail Blazers with 16 factors within the first half and completed with 24. Nassir Little added 18 off the bench.
It was a reasonably tight sport till the third quarter, when the Suns had a 37-17 benefit.
“It went off track in the third quarter, which is an understatement,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts stated.
Stotts stated he was assured his group would get again on observe after the tough night time.
“We always bounce back. That has been a trait of ours,” Stotts stated. “You are going to have some bad losses and it is how you respond to them. That is what matters.”
COOLING OFF, A LITTLE
Phoenix entered on an unimaginable taking pictures roll from lengthy vary, breaking the franchise file with 24 3-pointers in a win Saturday towards Memphis. That got here one night time after tying the franchise file with 22 3s towards the Pelicans. It was the fourth time in NBA historical past {that a} group made not less than 22 3s in back-to-back video games.
The Suns have been superb once more on Monday from lengthy vary, however not fairly as prolific. They shot 16 of 33 on 3-pointers (48.5%).
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: Portland received good minutes from its bench within the first half. Rodney Hood had 9 factors and Carmelo Anthony added eight. … Anthony received a technical foul within the third quarter for elbowing Suns ahead Jae Crowder within the face.
Suns: Booker scored the group’s first six factors and made six of his first seven photographs. … Phoenix’s bench contributed 64 factors. Dario Saric had 14 and Johnson added 13.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Travel to face Denver on Tuesday.
Suns: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
