Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Devin Booker scored 40 points and Kevin Durant added 18 en route to leading the Phoenix Suns to a 125-119 road win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday evening.
Phoenix Suns @Suns
BOOK IT.
☄️ 33rd career 40+ point regular season game
☄️ ONLY player in the @NBA with 30+ points in every current arena
☄️ FIFTH arena scoring record pic.twitter.com/L34aeMQWFZ
Royce O’Neale scored 21 points off the bench for the 4-1 Suns, who allowed 70 first-half points and were down by as many as 21 before staging a successful comeback.
O’Neale hit the game’s biggest shot, knocking down a three with 45 seconds left for a 118-112 lead.
NBA @NBA
Royce O’Neale knocks down the big-time 3!
His fifth of the game puts the Suns up 6 with under a minute left on NBA TV 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gHbl95Ejcn
Rookie Ryan Dunn scored 16 points and veteran point guard Tyus Jones added 11 assists for Phoenix, which played without guard Bradley Beal (right elbow sprain).
Phoenix’s hot shooting got the job done, with the Suns making 51.2 percent of their shots and 18-of-39 threes. Phoenix notably made its first 15 field goal attempts in the third quarter.
NBA @NBA
THE 3Q RUN THAT GOT IT DONE. 🔥
▪️ 8 twos
▪️ 7 threes
▪️ 37 points in an 8-minute stretch
The @Suns hit 15 (!) shots in a row to erase a 21-point deficit before pulling out the W 🙌 pic.twitter.com/p8WSLg4cBH
Clippers point guard James Harden led L.A. with a 25-point, 13-assist, 10-rebound triple-double. Norman Powell scored 23 points, and Ivica Zubac added a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double.
The Suns ultimately won a tough game, moving into a tie for second place in the West with the Golden State Warriors.
Fans and analysts recognized their impressive effort, led by Booker, who shot 11-of-18 (5-of-9 from three) and added eight assists and three steals.
Shane Young @YoungNBA
Devin Booker had 40 points on 81.3% true shooting tonight.
He joined this list of guys with at least 10 career games above the 40-point, 80% TS mark: pic.twitter.com/VzTUQTiwVv
Booker Muse @DevinBookerMuse
Devin Booker holds the arena scoring records at:
TD Garden (70)
Gainbridge Fieldhouse (62)
Delta Center (59)
Footprint Center (58)
Intuit Dome (40)
Elite. pic.twitter.com/peincxtIfF
Suns Are Better @SunsAreBetter
Running out of words to describe Ryan Dunn other than…
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. pic.twitter.com/XLIj0JT3eb
Phoenix now heads home for a three-game stretch beginning Saturday evening against the Portland Trail Blazers.
