PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 40 points, Kevin Durant added 32 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-101 on Wednesday night.
The Suns have won six of their last eight games, moving into 6th place in a crowded Western Conference playoff race that would allow them to avoid the play-in tournament.
Booker – going out a 52-point night in a victory against New Orleans Monday – shooting 13 of 25 from the field, including 5 of 9 from 3-point range. Durant shot 13 of 23 and added seven assists.
“I think it’s just the energy of our whole team, the understanding of what’s at stake and the time of year,” Booker said. “The ball is jumping, we are defending at a high level.”
This is only the second time this season that Booker and Durant have both scored at least 30 in the same game. Royce O’Neale scored 17 points, making five 3-pointers, while Bol Bol added 15 points coming off the bench.
The 7-foot-3 Bol has earned more time in the Suns’ rotation over the past few months. He’s barely played in the first few months of the season, but is averaging about seven points per game since the All-Star break, shooting about 60 percent from the field, including 43 percent from 3-point range.
“He grows every time he steps on the court,” Durant said. “He understands more and more what his job is and he’s also an excellent shooter. It’s about building on those performances and continuing to improve.
Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell played against the Suns one night after resting his sore left knee that caused him to miss much of March. The five-time All-Star finished with 24 points. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley both added 20.
“We just have to find this consistently,” Mobley said. “We had some good things in there that we can definitely take advantage of, but we just have to put it all together.”
The Suns took a 72-47 lead into halftime, making 12 of 18 3-pointers. Booker led all scorers with 19 points before the break while Durant had 17.
“In the first half you give up 72 points, it’s hard to come back,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. “I was proud of the guys’ effort in the second half. I thought we competed at a much higher level.
Cleveland cut that deficit to 77-66 on Allen’s layup midway through the third, but the Suns rebounded to take a 98-77 lead heading into the fourth.
The Suns would avoid the play-in tournament if the season ended today, but there is plenty of work to do. The Mavericks, Suns, Pelicans, Kings and Lakers – who currently occupy the five to nine spots in the West – are separated by just two games in the standings.
The Cavaliers are trying to protect the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Magic and Knicks are right behind them. Cleveland is 11-15 since February 12.
The Suns played without starting guard Grayson Allen, who missed the game with left hip soreness.
FOLLOWING
Cavaliers: At the Lakers on Saturday.
Suns: Host Minnesota Friday night.
