Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined forces to lead the Phoenix Suns (8-6) to a convincing 120-107 triumph over the struggling Portland Trail Blazers (3-11) in an In-Season Tournament showdown.
Durant showcased his scoring prowess, notching 31 points in his 1,000th NBA game, surpassing Elvin Hayes to claim the 11th spot on the all-time scoring list with a total of 27,330 career points.
Devin Booker contributed 28 points, displaying precision at the free-throw line by going a perfect 10 for 10.
The Suns secured their fourth consecutive victory, holding a 2-1 record in West Group A of the tournament.
Facing his former team, Deandre Ayton endured a hostile reception from the Phoenix crowd but managed to score 18 points and grab eight rebounds for the struggling Trail Blazers, who have now lost eight consecutive games.
Ex-Blazer Jusuf Nurkic made a significant impact, scoring 18 points and securing a game-high 12 rebounds for Phoenix.
Despite the Trail Blazers mounting a comeback, erasing a 13-point deficit in the first quarter to tie the game in the second, the Suns maintained control, heading into halftime with a 56-51 lead and extending their advantage to 18 points down the stretch.
Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 26 points, while the return of Malcolm Brogdon, who scored 19, couldn’t lift Portland to victory.
The absence of Bradley Beal, sidelined with lower back spasms, and Yuta Watanabe, out with a deep bruise in his left thigh, didn’t hinder the Suns’ winning streak.
