Jamaree Bouyea scored a career-high 27 points to help the Phoenix Suns close the regular season with a 135-103 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday.
With their playoff positions secure going into the game, both teams sat the majority of their starters and major rotational players.
The Thunder’s Luguentz Dort was the only player in the starting lineup from either side who had started more than 23 games this season. He didn’t make much of an impact, with just six points and two steals in just more than 20 minutes of action.
Dort needed to play at least 20 minutes in the finale to qualify for any postseason awards.
Oklahoma City has led plenty of teams from wire to wire this season but Sunday, it was the Suns who took control from the jump and never let the lead get away with an early 21-0 run.
The Thunder missed 13 consecutive shots during the stretch, going more than six minutes without a score as Phoenix grabbed a 26-5 lead.
Ryan Dunn scored 10 of his season-high 20 points during the stretch. He finished 8 for 11 with a career-high tying 11 rebounds and a career-high five assists.
Koby Brea added 20 points off the bench for Phoenix. Brea had scored just 25 points total in his first 11 NBA games. Rookie center Khaman Maluach had a career-high 18 points and tied his career high with 14 rebounds off the bench as well.
After that early outburst, the game was never closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
Oklahoma City cut the deficit to 14 early in the third quarter before an 11-2 run by Phoenix put the game out of reach for good.
The Suns’ 135 points was the most scored against the Thunder in a regulation game this season and the most scored by Phoenix this season.
Branden Carlson tied his career high with 26 points to lead the Thunder (64-18). He also had 10 rebounds. Payton Sandfort added 23 points off the bench.
Oklahoma City is the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs.
Phoenix (45-37) is the No. 7 seed and will open the play-in tournament at home Tuesday against eighth-seeded Portland.
The winner will advance as the No. 7 seed to take on San Antonio while the loser will take on the winner of the other West play-in matchup — the Clippers hosting the Warriors on Wednesday — for a chance to play the Thunder in the first round.
–Field Level Media
