Devin Booker had a game-high 28 points and the Phoenix Suns rode a big fourth quarter to take down the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, 116-109, on Sunday night.
Despite shooting 1-for-9 from 3-point range, Kevin Durant added 20 points for the Suns, who were without Bradley Beal for a second straight game because of a swollen knee.
Portland has now lost six games in a row. All five Trail Blazers starters scored in double figures, led by Anfernee Simons (20 points) and Jerami Grant (17). Reserve Deni Avdija also had 17 points.
After never leading in the first half, and being down 57-51 at halftime, Portland started the third quarter with an 11-0 run that included a pair of baskets by Shaedon Sharpe to take its first lead.
Phoenix would answer, going ahead 73-71 after back-to-back 3-pointers by Tyus Jones and Booker. The Suns ended up carrying an 83-79 lead into the fourth.
The final frame was all Phoenix. Jusuf Nurkic sparked a 9-0 Suns run with a three-point play after he was fouled on a hook shot, and Phoenix led 94-82 at the eight-minute mark of the period. The Suns’ advantage would reach 16, the biggest lead of the night, on a Jones jumper with 5:57 left.
The Blazers made a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to make the final score look close.
Phoenix controlled play in the first quarter, as the Blazers went 3-for-14 from long distance in the frame. The Suns ended the first on an 8-2 run that included a pair of treys from Grayson Allen and led 33-21 after the session.
Portland surged in the second quarter, helped by a foul called on Allen, with officials reviewing the play and saying that Allen didn’t give Sharpe room to come down after making a basket. Sharpe made the subsequent flagrant free throw as part of what would be a 10-0 Portland run that pulled the visitors within 37-34, but Durant stopped the flurry with a mid-range jumper.
Portland got good news with the return of center Robert Williams III, who missed the past seven games due to concussion protocol and reconditioning. He played 17 minutes on Sunday and finished with eight points.
Deandre Ayton missed the game for Portland with an illness.
–Field Level Media