Booker scores 32 points and Suns never trail in steamrolling Spurs 131-106
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Devin Booker scored 32 points before sitting out the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns never trailed in steamrolling the San Antonio Spurs 131-106 on Saturday night to help their playoff positioning.
“He was first-class Devin Booker tonight,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said. “He was scoring, he was passing. In complete control of the game. Really strong performance by Book.”
Kevin Durant added 25 points for Phoenix, which never trailed and led by as many as 32. Bradley Beal had 13 points and a season-high 12 assists.
Victor Wembanyama had 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot in 21 minutes as San Antonio lost its third straight and eighth in 10 games. Keldon Johnson had 14 points.
Phoenix shot 59.6% in winning their eighth straight in San Antonio.
“I thought we had a little more contact and physicality in the second half, but you’re not going to stop Book and K.D. from doing what they’re doing and Bradley’s healthy now,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “That’s a pretty tough trio. Our guys did everything they could, and you move on.”
The Suns have won three straight to improve to 13 games above .500 for the first time this season. The surge comes at an opportune time as Phoenix (42-29) is a half-game ahead of Dallas (41-29) for the sixth and final automatic playoff berth in the Western Conference.
“This is what we have been working for and toward all season,” Booker said. “I think the timing is right. It’s the meat of the season and it’s time to lock in and get prepared for postseason.”
Phoenix has a rematch with San Antonio on Monday as the Spurs conclude a season-high eight-game homestand. San Antonio has won just once during that stretch.
The Spurs (15-56) must win five of their last 11 games to avoid finishing with the worst record in franchise history – 20-62 in 1997. Of San Antonio’s remaining opponents, only Utah, Memphis and Detroit are currently not in the playoffs or play-in tournament.
Any chance the Spurs had of ending their skid diminished quickly.
“That’s what you want them all to look like when you get an early lead,” Vogel said. “To keep your foot on the gas and play the third quarter the way we did and go for a knockout punch, which we did.”
San Antonio opened the game shooting 4 for 17 from the field and had four turnovers.
To make matters worse, Booker had 12 points while shooting 5 for 9 from the field in the opening quarter.
Booker then opened the second half with consecutive 3-pointers as Phoenix took its biggest lead at the time at 70-47.
“I think it’s just everybody,” Booker said. “I think team defense, we found a rhythm and that directly translates to the offensive side of the ball. You don’t want to get complacent. We have a lot to work on, but we are taking steps in the right direction.”
The Suns, which came in averaging 117 points per game, had six players score in double figures. Bradley Beal and Bol Bol had 13 points each.
“It’s just simply switching up who initiates the ball sometimes,” Durant said. “Switching up who we want to be the scorer one play, who is setting the screen one play. We are all versatile players that can do everything on the offensive side of the floor. We utilized that and we played off one another. … It was a good flow tonight.”
After besting Bol in a jump ball, Wembanyama smoothly drained a 25-foot, step-back 3-pointer that trimmed the Suns’ lead to 36-24 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Wembanyama had 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block, but the Spurs trailed 65-47 at the half.
Wembanyama finished 5 for 7 from the field.
“It’s a team effort with him,” Durant said. “You can’t guard him one on one. He’s a load. He’s tough."
Booker and Durant, who received a bottle of wine from Popovich after the game, both sat out the final quarter. Booker and Durant played for Popovich and won a gold medal with Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics.
San Antonio is 5-19 in back-to-backs, including 2-10 in the second game.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Jusuf Nurkic vs. Victor Wembanyama (Tre Jones gains possession) | |||
11:41 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
11:26 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point hook shot | |||
11:22 | Spurs defensive rebound | |||
11:09 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:05 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
10:51 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 3-0 | |
10:36 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
10:30 | Devin Booker misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
10:27 | Devin Vassell defensive rebound | |||
10:19 | Devin Vassell misses two point cutting finger roll layup | |||
10:17 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
10:12 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:07 | Tre Jones defensive rebound | |||
10:04 | Julian Champagnie misses three point running jump shot | |||
10:00 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
9:51 | Kevin Durant misses three point jump shot | |||
9:48 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
9:45 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Devin Vassell assists) | 3-2 | |
9:28 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 5-2 | |
9:15 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
9:11 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
9:02 | Julian Champagnie blocks Devin Booker's two point driving layup | |||
9:02 | Spurs defensive rebound | |||
8:47 | Devin Booker shooting foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
8:47 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-3 | |
8:47 | +1 | Victor Wembanyama makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-4 | |
8:33 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 7-4 | |
8:15 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point driving layup (Tre Jones assists) | 7-6 | |
8:00 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point turnaround hook shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 9-6 | |
7:50 | Victor Wembanyama misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:45 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
7:27 | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:24 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
7:23 | Grayson Allen shooting foul (Tre Jones draws the foul) | |||
7:23 | +1 | Tre Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-7 | |
7:23 | +1 | Tre Jones makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-8 | |
7:10 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 11-8 | |
6:53 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
6:50 | Bradley Beal defensive rebound | |||
6:46 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point running layup (Bradley Beal assists) | 13-8 | |
6:46 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
6:21 | Keldon Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
6:20 | Suns defensive rebound | |||
6:09 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 15-8 | |
5:53 | Tre Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:46 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point running finger roll layup | 17-8 | |
5:35 | +2 | Devin Vassell makes two point cutting dunk (Zach Collins assists) | 17-10 | |
5:17 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
5:17 | Devin Booker offensive rebound | |||
5:12 | Bradley Beal misses three point jump shot | |||
5:08 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | +2 | Jeremy Sochan makes two point running dunk (Tre Jones assists) | 17-12 | |
4:45 | Bradley Beal turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:26 | Malaki Branham misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:24 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
4:14 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving finger roll layup | 19-12 | |
4:01 | Zach Collins misses two point hook shot | |||
4:01 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
3:53 | Grayson Allen misses two point running finger roll layup | |||
3:50 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
3:45 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:43 | Zach Collins offensive rebound | |||
3:40 | Zach Collins turnover (lost ball) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
3:40 | Cedi Osman personal foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
3:40 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-12 | |
3:35 | Devin Booker misses three point jump shot | |||
3:31 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
3:18 | Zach Collins misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
3:15 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
3:07 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 22-12 | |
2:48 | Devin Vassell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:46 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
2:34 | Grayson Allen misses two point driving finger roll layup | |||
2:31 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Zach Collins turnover (bad pass) (Drew Eubanks steals) | |||
2:14 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point running finger roll layup | 24-12 | |
2:01 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Malaki Branham assists) | 24-15 | |
1:59 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
1:46 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 26-15 | |
1:25 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving floating jump shot (Keldon Johnson assists) | 26-17 | |
1:08 | Victor Wembanyama blocks Eric Gordon's two point driving layup | |||
1:05 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
0:56 | Cedi Osman misses three point jump shot | |||
0:53 | Victor Wembanyama offensive rebound | |||
0:51 | Victor Wembanyama turnover (bad pass) (Eric Gordon steals) | |||
0:47 | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | |||
0:42 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
0:39 | Bradley Beal personal foul (Cedi Osman draws the foul) | |||
0:34 | Victor Wembanyama misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:30 | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | |||
0:06 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
0:03 | Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | Keldon Johnson misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:45 | +3 | Eric Gordon makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 29-17 | |
11:18 | Keldon Johnson misses two point turnaround bank jump shot | |||
11:16 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
11:06 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 31-17 | |
10:54 | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | |||
10:49 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
10:38 | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point jump shot (Drew Eubanks assists) | 33-17 | |
10:18 | +2 | Victor Wembanyama makes two point driving finger roll layup | 33-19 | |
10:04 | Malaki Branham shooting foul (Drew Eubanks draws the foul) | |||
10:04 | +1 | Drew Eubanks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 34-19 | |
10:04 | +1 | Drew Eubanks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-19 | |
9:45 | Bol Bol shooting foul (Blake Wesley draws the foul) | |||
9:45 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-20 | |
9:45 | +1 | Blake Wesley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 35-21 | |
9:31 | Blake Wesley shooting foul (Bol Bol draws the foul) | |||
9:31 | +1 | Bol Bol makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 36-21 | |
9:31 | Bol Bol misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
9:29 | Victor Wembanyama defensive rebound | |||
9:10 | Bol Bol personal foul (Victor Wembanyama draws the foul) | |||
9:02 | Jump ball. Victor Wembanyama vs. Bol Bol (Cedi Osman gains possession) | |||
8:56 | +3 | Victor Wembanyama makes three point stepback jump shot | 36-24 | |
8:39 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot | 38-24 | |
8:24 | +2 | Malaki Branham makes two point driving finger roll layup | 38-26 | |
7:56 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point floating jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 40-26 | |
7:42 | Drew Eubanks blocks Blake Wesley's two point cutting dunk | |||
7:37 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
7:34 | +3 | Eric Gordon makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 43-26 | |
7:08 | +3 | Blake Wesley makes three point jump shot (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 43-29 | |
6:49 | Kevin Durant misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:46 | Cedi Osman defensive rebound | |||
6:42 | +2 | Cedi Osman makes two point running layup | 43-31 | |
6:30 | Blake Wesley personal foul (Bradley Beal draws the foul) | |||
6:30 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
6:15 | Kevin Durant misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
6:12 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
6:05 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point stepback jump shot | 45-31 | |
5:53 | Malaki Branham misses three point jump shot | |||
5:50 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
5:41 | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
5:38 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
5:24 | Jeremy Sochan turnover (bad pass) (Jusuf Nurkic steals) | |||
5:19 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point running finger roll layup (Devin Booker assists) | 47-31 | |
4:59 | Zach Collins misses two point jump shot | |||
4:56 | Bol Bol defensive rebound | |||
4:40 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
4:31 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
4:31 | Jusuf Nurkic misses two point putback layup | |||
4:31 | Jeremy Sochan defensive rebound | |||
4:24 | Devin Vassell misses three point running jump shot | |||
4:19 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
4:12 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 49-31 | |
4:00 | +3 | Zach Collins makes three point jump shot (Tre Jones assists) | 49-34 | |
3:46 | +2 | Bol Bol makes two point pullup jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 51-34 | |
3:38 | Malaki Branham misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
3:38 | Bol Bol defensive rebound | |||
3:25 | +2 | Jusuf Nurkic makes two point cutting layup (Devin Booker assists) | 53-34 | |
3:25 | Spurs 60 second timeout | |||
3:08 | Jeremy Sochan misses three point jump shot | |||
3:08 | Spurs offensive rebound | |||
3:08 | Eric Gordon personal foul (Loose ball) (Zach Collins draws the foul) | |||
2:57 | Devin Vassell misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
2:53 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
2:39 | Grayson Allen turnover (bad pass) (Zach Collins steals) | |||
2:34 | +2 | Zach Collins makes two point running finger roll layup | 53-36 | |
2:14 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point driving floating jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 55-36 | |
2:07 | Jusuf Nurkic kicked ball violation | |||
1:54 | +2 | Julian Champagnie makes two point driving layup (Jeremy Sochan assists) | 55-38 | |
1:38 | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point jump shot (Bradley Beal assists) | 58-38 | |
1:26 | Julian Champagnie misses three point jump shot | |||
1:25 | Keldon Johnson offensive rebound | |||
1:25 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point tip layup | 58-40 | |
1:25 | Eric Gordon shooting foul (Keldon Johnson draws the foul) | |||
1:25 | +1 | Keldon Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 58-41 | |
1:03 | +3 | Eric Gordon makes three point jump shot (Grayson Allen assists) | 61-41 | |
0:51 | +2 | Keldon Johnson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Tre Jones assists) | 61-43 | |
0:32 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 63-43 | |
0:24 | +2 | Tre Jones makes two point cutting layup (Victor Wembanyama assists) | 63-45 | |
0:09 | Keldon Johnson personal foul (Take) (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
0:03 |