Booker and Durant shine as Phoenix Suns beat Portland Trail Blazers

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker He had 28 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Phoenix Suns used a dominant third quarter, beat Portland Trail Blazers 103-97 Saturday evening.

Kevin Durant scored 21 points for Phoenix, which won its fourth straight victory.

The Suns led by 26 points, but the Trail Blazers cut the deficit to 99-97 in the final minute. Booker and Tyce Jones each made two free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the victory.

Grayson Allen scored 18 goals off the bench, making a team-high four 3-pointers. Jones and Bradley Beal each finished with 15 points, and Jusuf Nurkic grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

Trailing 47-43 at halftime, Phoenix scored 44 points in the third quarter to take a 22-point lead by the end of the period. The Suns had no turnovers in the third quarter after nine in the first half.

Booker and Allen each scored 10 points in the third quarter, while Portland scored just 18 points in the period.

Anfernee Simons And Jerami Grant led the Trail Blazers with 20 points each. Deni Avdija scored 13 points and the former Sun Deandre Ayton scored 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Takeaway

Trail Blazers: Simons missed his first six shots but made 8 of 25 for the game, including a team-high four 3-pointers.

Suns: Beal returned after missing two of the last three games with a sprained left elbow and played 34 minutes. He had 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Key Point

Jones’ 25-footer gave the Suns a 57-54 lead and started Phoenix’s 26-4 run in the third quarter.

Key State

After shooting 27% from the field in the first half, Phoenix made 61% of their shot attempts in the third quarter, including 50% (9 of 18) from 3-point range.

Portland will face New Orleans on Monday, the same day the Suns host the 76ers.

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NBA AP: