Devin Booker dazzled with 40 points, complemented by Kevin Durant ‘s 32, leading the Phoenix Suns to a commanding 122-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers during Wednesday’s NBA action.
The Suns’ recent streak of success, with victories in six out of their last eight games, has catapulted them to the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference’s playoff race. This significant leap positions them to bypass the play-in tournament potentially.
Fresh off a remarkable 52-point game against New Orleans, Booker continued to shine, converting 13 of his 25 shots, including 5 out of 9 from the three-point line. Durant, on his part, made 13 of 23 attempts and provided seven assists.
“I think it’s just the energy throughout our whole team, understanding what’s at stake and what time of year it is,” Booker said. “The ball’s hopping around, we’re defending at a high level.”
This game marked the second season, where Booker and Durant each scored 30 or more points in the same game. Additional firepower came from Royce O’Neale, who scored 17 points with five 3-pointers, and Bol Bol, who added 15 points from the bench.
Bol, the towering 7-foot-3 center, has gradually found his footing within the Suns’ rotation, especially in the months following the All-Star break. He showcases an impressive average of around seven points per game and a shooting efficiency of 60% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc.
“He’s growing every single time he gets on the floor. He’s understanding more and more what his job is, and he’s a great shotmaker as well,” Durant said of Bol. “It’s all about building on these performances and continuing to get better.”
Donovan Mitchell, coming off a rest day for a sore left knee that sidelined him for much of March, scored 24 points against the Suns. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley each tallied 20 points.
“We’ve just got to find that consistently,” Mobley said. “We had some good things in there we can definitely pull from, but we’ve just got to put it all together.”
The Suns established a dominant 72-47 advantage by halftime, buoyed by their 12 of 18 shooting from the three-point line. Booker was the top scorer with 19 points before the break, closely followed by Durant with 17.
Despite a brief rally by Cleveland to cut the deficit to 77-66, the Suns expanded their lead to 98-77 entering the final quarter.
“The first half, you give up 72 points, it’s hard to come back from. I was proud of the guys’ effort in the second half,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I thought we competed at a much higher level.”
As the playoff race heats up, the Suns aim to solidify their position and avoid the play-in tournament in a tightly contested Western Conference battle. The Cavaliers are striving to safeguard their No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, facing stiff competition from the Magic and Knicks. Since February 12, Cleveland has posted an 11-15 record.
Missing from the Suns’ lineup was Grayson Allen, who was sidelined due to left hip soreness.
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers are set to visit the Lakers on Saturday, while the Suns will host the Timberwolves on Friday night.
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