Devin Booker led the Phoenix Suns to a 104-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night, securing a crucial win despite the early exit of Kevin Durant due to an ankle injury. The Suns improved to 12-8 with the win, while the Spurs dropped to 11-10.
Booker, who surpassed 15,000 career points with his first basket of the night, finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. His stellar performance helped Phoenix weather Durant’s injury and overcome a challenging game.
Durant, who was playing well with 13 points in 16 minutes, left the game with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter. The Suns later confirmed that he suffered an ankle injury, but specifics were not provided. He did not return to the game.
The Suns were also without starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who is sidelined with a right thigh contusion. Oso Ighodaro stepped in, contributing seven points and three rebounds.
San Antonio struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 18.2% (8-44) from three-point range. Victor Wembanyama, who had a rough first half, managed to score all 15 of his points in the second half, along with 13 rebounds. However, his performance was not enough to secure a win for the Spurs.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs in scoring with 25 points off the bench. Tyus Jones and Royce O’Neale each contributed 10 points for Phoenix, while Bradley Beal added 10 points and nine assists. Mason Plumlee played a crucial role off the bench, contributing six points and six rebounds.
San Antonio’s Chris Paul struggled throughout the game, finishing with just two points on 1-9 shooting. Rookie sensation Wembanyama had an impressive second-half effort but could not overcome the team’s overall shooting woes.
Phoenix’s win, however, did not secure them a spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, as they were eliminated when Dallas beat Memphis.
