![]() |
Booker Drops 30, Durant Adds 27 as Suns Rally to Defeat Hornets 120-113 By AP |
PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 30 points, Kevin Durant added 27, and the Phoenix Suns staged a late rally to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 120-113 on Sunday night.
With the win, the Suns extended their winning streak to three games and have now won four of their last five. Meanwhile, Charlotte has struggled, losing 10 of its last 11 games.
The Hornets, who were aiming for their second win over Phoenix in a week, held a 98-93 lead heading into the fourth quarter and managed to stay ahead for much of the final period. However, Durant hit a step-back jumper to give the Suns a 111-110 lead with just over three minutes left.
Durant then found rookie Oso Ighodaro for a dunk to extend Phoenix’s lead to 115-113. Royce O'Neale followed with a 3-pointer to seal the win, putting the Suns up 118-113 with 41.5 seconds remaining.
Charlotte, who hadn’t played since a 115-104 win over the Suns on Tuesday, had its Thursday and Saturday games against the Lakers and Clippers postponed due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 25 points, while Mark Williams added a season-high 24 points and 16 rebounds, including 22 points and 13 rebounds in the first half.
Takeaways:
Hornets: A tough loss for Charlotte, which had control for most of the game. They struggled with shot selection in the final moments.
Suns: Phoenix played poorly for much of the game but found their rhythm in the final minutes to secure the win. Grayson Allen had 13 points in the first half but was sidelined in the second half due to left knee soreness.
Key Moment:
Durant’s decision to pass to Ighodaro for a crucial dunk in the closing minutes highlighted the team's growth and trust in one another.
Key Stat:
Ighodaro scored eight points in the fourth quarter, providing a crucial presence in the paint when the Suns needed it most.
Up Next:
The Hornets will visit Utah on Wednesday night, while the Suns will travel to Atlanta on Tuesday night.
0 Comments