The Phoenix Suns delivered a wire-to-wire performance Sunday night, rolling past the Washington Wizards 112-93 at Mortgage Matchup Center to continue their recent surge.
Phoenix improved to 24-15 and has now won 10 of its last 13 games, using defensive pressure and perimeter shooting to put the game out of reach well before the final buzzer.
Royce O’Neale led the Suns with 19 points, knocking down five three-pointers and setting the tone during a decisive third quarter that broke the game open.
Devin Booker added 17 points and eight assists, directing the offense efficiently before spending the entire fourth quarter on the bench with the outcome decided.
Dillon Brooks scored 16 points and buried four shots from beyond the arc, including three triples in the third period as Phoenix extended its lead to 96-65 entering the final quarter.
The Suns shot 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from three, but their biggest edge came from ball security and defensive activity against a Washington team that struggled to find rhythm.
Phoenix committed just 14 turnovers and forced 23 miscues, many of which turned into open looks or early offense.
Washington shot 39.5 percent overall and just 23.3 percent from long range, including a 6-of-21 effort in the third quarter when the game slipped away.
The Wizards briefly stayed competitive in the first half, but Phoenix still carried a 65-50 advantage into the locker room after building a 17-point lead in the second quarter.
Booker paced the Suns with 13 points before halftime, while Alex Sarr kept Washington afloat early with 13 points and activity on the glass.
Sarr finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, recording a double-double in a losing effort as the Wizards dropped to 10-28.
Rookie Tre Johnson also scored 19 points for Washington, but backcourt inefficiency and turnovers prevented the visitors from sustaining any momentum.
With the starters resting late, Phoenix’s bench maintained control, led by Grayson Allen’s 12 points, Oso Ighodaro’s 10, and Ryan Dunn’s nine.
Up next, the Wizards continue their road trip at the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, while the Suns head east to face Miami on Tuesday.
