Bradley Beal came off the bench to score 25 points, leading the Phoenix Suns (17-19) to a 123-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks (19-19) on Thursday night.
Beal, adapting to his sixth-man role, delivered one of his most efficient games of the season by shooting 11-of-16 from the field. Kevin Durant added 23 points, while Devin Booker recorded 20 points and 12 assists despite struggling from beyond the arc, missing all eight of his three-point attempts.
The Suns jumped out to an early lead, shooting 75% from the field in the first quarter to go up 38-31. However, the Hawks responded with a strong second quarter, taking a 72-68 advantage into halftime.
Phoenix regained control late in the third quarter when Beal’s driving layup at the buzzer gave them a 98-92 lead heading into the fourth. Grayson Allen was pivotal in the final stretch, scoring 23 points, including five three-pointers. His late-game layup with 36 seconds remaining sealed the win after Atlanta had cut a 15-point deficit to five.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 21 points and seven assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 17 points off the bench, and Clint Capela grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Seven Hawks scored in double figures, but their defense struggled to contain the Suns, who shot 57.6% from the field.
Phoenix’s victory was bolstered by improved bench contributions, with Beal and Allen combining for 48 points. Mason Plumlee added 10 rebounds, while Ryan Dunn’s defensive effort and seven boards helped limit the Hawks’ second-chance opportunities.
