PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Eric Gordon added 21 on the bench and Phoenix Suns beat the Atlanta Falcons 128-115 Thursday evening.
Phoenix won largely due to superior long-range shooting, making 22 of 41 3-pointers. Booker hit six 3s while Gordon and Royce O’Neale both added four. Kevin Durant had 19 points and Grayson Allen added 13.
Atlanta has lost five of its last six games. Defeat Murray scored 29 points while De’Andre Hunter added 22.
The Suns led by five at halftime and took a 96-93 lead into the fourth.
Phoenix got a big boost midway through the final quarter when O’Neale, Gordon and Bowl Bowl connected for 3 points on three straight offensive possessions for a 112-98 lead.
The Hawks responded by closing the gap to 115-110 with 5:24 to play, but Durant responded with a bucket to stave off the threat.
The Suns took the upper hand despite strong adversity in the second half.
Booker picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter, forcing coach Frank Vogel to remain a four-time All-Star until midway through the fourth. Departure center Jusuf Nurkic also missed much of the second half after being hit in the side of the face, sending him to the locker room for several minutes.
The Suns – playing on the second night of back-to-back games – looked sluggish early, falling into a 25-11 hole. Phoenix fought back pretty quickly and Bradley Beal‘s two-handed jam tied the score at 37 early in the second quarter.
Phoenix took a 65-60 lead into halftime. Booker led the Suns with 13 before the break while Murray had 18 for the Hawks.
Atlanta’s All-Star goaltender Trae Young missed his 13th consecutive game with a torn finger ligament. Atlanta is 6-7 in his absence.
Durant, who became the leading scorer in NBA history Wednesday night, reached another milestone Thursday with his 2,000th 3-point basket. He is the 16th player in the league to achieve this feat.
FOLLOWING
Hawks: Host Charlotte on Saturday night.
Suns: At San Antonio Saturday evening.
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APNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
David Brandt, Associated Press
