Booker scores 31 in return from injury, Suns roll past Timberwolves 133-115
PHOENIX (AP) Someday soon, the Phoenix Suns hope that their three All-Stars will be on the floor at the same time.
Two All-Stars turned out to be plenty on Wednesday night.
Devin Booker scored 31 points in his return from a calf injury, Kevin Durant also scored 31 and the Suns cruised past the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-115.
The Timberwolves had their seven-game winning streak snapped.
Booker returned after missing five games with a strained right calf. It was expected to be the first game of the season that all three Suns stars - Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal - played together, but Beal was a late scratch with a sore back.
The combo of Booker and Durant provided plenty of production on Wednesday. Booker shot 12 of 22 from the field, adding five assists and four rebounds. Durant made 11 of 15 shots.
“It's always nice just playing,” Booker said. “I try to give my input from the bench, but it gets old after a while. I just want to get out there and compete with the team.”
Phoenix dominated the game for the majority of the night, taking a six-point lead after one quarter, a 22-point lead at halftime and a 28-point advantage into the final quarter. The Suns shot 60% from the field and 55% from 3-point range, burying what had been one of the NBA's best defenses over the season's first month.
Eric Gordon scored 15 for the Suns, Grayson Allen added 14 and Drew Eubanks had 13, including a dunk over Karl Anthony-Towns.
“I was expecting (Booker) to have a little wind in his lungs early on,” Durant said. “But he looked great. The pop was there, playing with pace. It’s good to have our point guard back.”
Anthony-Towns led the Timberwolves with 25 points on his 28th birthday. Mike Conley had 14 points while Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels all scored 13.
Minnesota had a tough shooting night, particularly behind the 3-point arc, making just 5 of 27 (18.5%).
“It was certainly one of those nights - all credit to them,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “We could never really get them contained. They made a lot of shots, but they also had a lot of comfort. I don't think we were able to establish ourselves defensively.”
The Suns took a 76-54 halftime lead after shooting 63% from the field. Booker scored 18 points while Durant added 17.
The Timberwolves were playing one night after an emotional game against the Golden State Warriors. An altercation between Golden State's Klay Thompson and McDaniels escalated when Draymond Green grabbed Rudy Gobert around the neck and dragged him away.
Thompson, McDaniels and Green were all ejected. Green was given a five-game suspension by the NBA on Wednesday.
Conley said that wasn't an excuse for their mediocre performance on Wednesday.
“They played with much more force than we did, starting at the beginning,” Conley said. “We had a lot of mental lapses and it took us a little too long to get into the flow of the game.”
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Travel to New Orleans on Saturday.
Suns: Travel to Utah on Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Rudy Gobert vs. Jusuf Nurkic (Karl-Anthony Towns gains possession) | |||
11:43 | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
11:41 | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | |||
11:39 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
11:36 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 0-3 | |
11:04 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving hook shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 2-3 | |
10:56 | Grayson Allen turnover (bad pass) (Rudy Gobert steals) | |||
10:46 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving bank jump shot (Anthony Edwards assists) | 4-3 | |
10:35 | Eric Gordon turnover (lost ball) (Jaden McDaniels steals) | |||
10:24 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point jump shot | 6-3 | |
10:07 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 6-6 | |
9:51 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point jump shot | 8-6 | |
9:30 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving layup (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 8-8 | |
9:16 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point alley-oop layup (Anthony Edwards assists) | 10-8 | |
9:08 | +2 | Eric Gordon makes two point driving layup (Devin Booker assists) | 10-10 | |
8:48 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 12-10 | |
8:31 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
8:29 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | Anthony Edwards misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:12 | Devin Booker defensive rebound | |||
8:05 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-12 | |
7:42 | Jaden McDaniels misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
7:38 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
7:21 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
7:19 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | Rudy Gobert misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
7:04 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
6:54 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup bank jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 12-14 | |
6:35 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
6:26 | Mike Conley misses three point jump shot | |||
6:24 | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | |||
6:21 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
6:21 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-14 | |
6:21 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-14 | |
6:05 | +3 | Josh Okogie makes three point jump shot (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 14-17 | |
5:52 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point cutting dunk (Mike Conley assists) | 16-17 | |
5:29 | +3 | Josh Okogie makes three point jump shot (Eric Gordon assists) | 16-20 | |
5:01 | Anthony Edwards misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
4:57 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
4:48 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point pullup jump shot (Josh Okogie assists) | 16-22 | |
4:30 | Mike Conley misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:28 | Jusuf Nurkic defensive rebound | |||
4:15 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround jump shot (Grayson Allen assists) | 16-24 | |
4:15 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
4:15 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 16-25 | |
4:00 | Karl-Anthony Towns turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
3:50 | +2 | Eric Gordon makes two point driving layup | 16-27 | |
3:34 | +2 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes two point driving layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists) | 18-27 | |
3:28 | +2 | Grayson Allen makes two point driving layup | 18-29 | |
3:28 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | |||
3:28 | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 18-30 | |
3:15 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses three point jump shot | |||
3:11 | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | |||
3:08 | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
3:08 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-31 | |
3:08 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-32 | |
2:50 | +2 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving hook shot | 20-32 | |
2:33 | Shake Milton personal foul (Eric Gordon draws the foul) | |||
2:33 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
2:27 | Yuta Watanabe misses three point jump shot | |||
2:22 | Shake Milton defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | Shake Milton misses two point driving layup | |||
2:01 | Shake Milton offensive rebound | |||
1:58 | +2 | Shake Milton makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 22-32 | |
1:46 | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
1:43 | Keita Bates-Diop offensive rebound | |||
1:32 | Devin Booker misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
1:30 | Kyle Anderson defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Naz Reid draws the foul) | |||
1:25 | +1 | Naz Reid makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-32 | |
1:25 | +1 | Naz Reid makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-32 | |
1:19 | Shake Milton shooting foul (Josh Okogie draws the foul) | |||
1:19 | Josh Okogie misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:19 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
1:19 | +1 | Josh Okogie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 24-33 | |
1:03 | Naz Reid misses two point bank hook shot | |||
1:00 | Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound | |||
1:00 | Keita Bates-Diop shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 25-33 | |
1:00 | +1 | Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 26-33 | |
0:50 | Yuta Watanabe misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:48 | Naz Reid defensive rebound | |||
0:40 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
0:38 | Suns defensive rebound | |||
0:31 | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
0:30 | Timberwolves defensive rebound | |||
0:12 | +3 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker makes three point jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 29-33 | |
0:02 | Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Devin Booker draws the foul) | |||
0:02 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-34 | |
0:02 | +1 | Devin Booker makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-35 | |
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | Devin Booker misses two point driving layup | |||
11:43 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
11:35 | +2 | Keita Bates-Diop makes two point driving floating jump shot (Yuta Watanabe assists) | 29-37 | |
11:09 | +3 | Mike Conley makes three point pullup jump shot (Kyle Anderson assists) | 32-37 | |
10:58 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point driving layup | 32-39 | |
10:48 | Naz Reid misses three point jump shot | |||
10:48 | Yuta Watanabe defensive rebound | |||
10:28 | +3 | Drew Eubanks makes three point jump shot (Keita Bates-Diop assists) | 32-42 | |
10:10 | Jordan Goodwin blocks Anthony Edwards's two point pullup jump shot | |||
10:09 | Jordan Goodwin defensive rebound | |||
10:03 | Yuta Watanabe misses three point running jump shot | |||
9:59 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
9:47 | Kyle Anderson misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | |||
9:45 | Keita Bates-Diop defensive rebound | |||
9:30 | +2 | Devin Booker makes two point pullup jump shot | 32-44 | |
9:19 | Anthony Edwards turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
9:05 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point hook shot | 32-46 | |
9:04 | Timberwolves 60 second timeout | |||
8:46 | +2 | Anthony Edwards makes two point driving reverse layup | 34-46 | |
8:35 | Rudy Gobert blocks Drew Eubanks's two point jump shot | |||
8:34 | Drew Eubanks offensive rebound | |||
8:28 | +3 | Jordan Goodwin makes three point jump shot (Eric Gordon assists) | 34-49 | |
8:18 | Rudy Gobert offensive foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
8:18 | Rudy Gobert turnover (offensive foul) | |||
8:06 | +3 | Kevin Durant makes three point jump shot (Jordan Goodwin assists) | 34-52 | |
7:55 | Kevin Durant shooting foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
7:55 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 35-52 | |
7:55 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 36-52 | |
7:39 | Kevin Durant misses two point jump shot | |||
7:35 | Anthony Edwards defensive rebound | |||
7:30 | Anthony Edwards misses three point running pullup jump shot | |||
7:27 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
7:22 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point cutting layup (Kevin Durant assists) | 36-54 | |
7:22 | Rudy Gobert defensive goaltending violation | |||
7:04 | Kevin Durant blocks Rudy Gobert's two point cutting dunk | |||
7:03 | Jordan Goodwin defensive rebound | |||
6:52 | Eric Gordon misses three point jump shot | |||
6:50 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
6:33 | Kyle Anderson turnover (kicked ball violation) | |||
6:18 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Drew Eubanks assists) | 36-56 | |
5:55 | +3 | Anthony Edwards makes three point jump shot | 39-56 | |
5:39 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point alley-oop layup (Eric Gordon assists) | 39-58 | |
5:26 | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point driving reverse layup | 41-58 | |
5:26 | Eric Gordon shooting foul (Mike Conley draws the foul) | |||
5:26 | +1 | Mike Conley makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-58 | |
5:09 | Kevin Durant misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
5:07 | Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound | |||
4:58 | +2 | Mike Conley makes two point driving layup (Jaden McDaniels assists) | 44-58 | |
4:58 | Suns 60 second timeout | |||
4:43 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 44-60 | |
4:19 | +2 | Jaden McDaniels makes two point driving layup | 46-60 | |
4:09 | Jaden McDaniels personal foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | +2 | Kevin Durant makes two point cutting dunk (Jusuf Nurkic assists) | 46-62 | |
4:04 | Jaden McDaniels shooting foul (Kevin Durant draws the foul) | |||
4:04 | +1 | Kevin Durant makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 46-63 | |
3:58 | Jusuf Nurkic shooting foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
3:58 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 47-63 | |
3:58 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 48-63 | |
3:40 | +3 | Josh Okogie makes three point jump shot (Devin Booker assists) | 48-66 | |
3:23 | Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point jump shot | |||
3:20 | Rudy Gobert offensive rebound | |||
3:20 | +2 | Rudy Gobert makes two point putback layup | 50-66 | |
3:01 | Devin Booker misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:00 | Suns offensive rebound | |||
2:49 | Rudy Gobert blocks Grayson Allen's two point driving layup | |||
2:47 | Rudy Gobert defensive rebound | |||
2:30 | Grayson Allen blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving layup | |||
2:30 | Suns defensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | |||
2:14 | Jusuf Nurkic offensive rebound | |||
2:12 | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Kevin Durant assists) | 50-69 | |
1:51 | Devin Booker shooting foul (Kyle Anderson draws the foul) | |||
1:51 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 51-69 | |
1:51 | +1 | Kyle Anderson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 52-69 | |
1:40 | Anthony Edwards blocks Drew Eubanks's two point cutting dunk | |||
1:38 | Devin Booker offensive rebound | |||
1:32 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point alley-oop layup (Devin Booker assists) | 52-71 | |
1:15 | Rudy Gobert turnover (3-second violation) | |||
1:03 | +2 | Drew Eubanks makes two point cutting dunk (Kevin Durant assists) | 52-73 | |
0:55 | Drew Eubanks personal foul (Anthony Edwards draws the foul) | |||
0:55 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 53-73 | |
0:55 | +1 | Anthony Edwards makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-73 | |
0:34 | +3 | Devin Booker makes three point pullup jump shot | 54-76 | |
0:24 | Anthony Edwards misses two point cutting layup | |||
0:22 | Timberwolves offensive rebound | |||
0:13 | Anthony Edwards misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:11 | Anthony Edwards offensive rebound | |||
0:07 | Anthony Edwards misses two point tip layup | |||
0:07 | Kevin Durant defensive rebound | |||
0:02 | Devin Booker turnover (lost ball) (Kyle Anderson steals) | |||
0:00 | End of period |