A pre-game slip ended Kevin Durant's home debut for the Phoenix Suns, but Devin Booker and Terrence Ross ensured that the mishap didn't hurt the hosts, who went on to overwhelm Olkahoma City Thunder 132-101 for a big win in their NBA game.
Booker scored 44 points and Terrence Ross added 24.
Phoenix have won four straight games, but that was almost an afterthought following Durant’s injury. Even Booker admitted the game was a bit of bummer without their newest star on the floor.
“The city's been waiting on this, it was a big day,” Booker said. “We'll reschedule the party. The people that missed out on it tonight, I tried to give them a little something to make it better.”
A 13-time All-Star, Durant was added in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with Brooklyn and the Footprint Center was buzzing in anticipation of his home debut. But he rolled his left ankle while driving to the basket as he prepared to play.
The 6-foot-10 forward immediately hopped up and was walking, but several minutes later, the Suns confirmed that he would miss the game. Coach Monty Williams said he wasn't sure how much more time Durant would miss.
(AI image)
“We’ll get more testing done tomorrow,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Right now, it’s just an ankle sprain and we don’t have anything official to report.”
With Durant out, Suns fans had to settle for a scoring show by Booker, who had 30 points in the first half.
The three-time All-Star shot 17 of 23 from the field — making 6 of 10 3-pointers — and received a standing ovation in the fourth quarter when he checked out of the game for the last time. He did his scoring in just 28 minutes on the court.
Ross also was 6 of 10 from 3-point range. Chris Paul had 18 points and nine assists. He made 4 of 5 3-pointers.
Oklahoma City played without All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because of “abdominal strain injury management.” The Thunder were overmatched without him and the Suns pulled away in the second half.
Lindy Waters III led the Thunder with 23 points. He made six 3-pointers and was just two points shy of his career high.
Durant has played three games with the Suns — all on the road and all wins — but this was supposed to be his first game at home in front of a sellout crowd. He averaged 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in the three games.
His next chance to play at home will be Saturday against the Kings.
“I know how much he loves to play and wanted to play,” Paul said. “But stuff happens.”
Phoenix added Durant and TJ Warren at the trade deadline, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and other draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Suns were ahead 60-52 at halftime.
“Obviously, Booker was great tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “Their offense was cooking and we didn’t do a good enough job offensively to keep pace with them.”
(With agency inputs)
