PHOENIX — Devin Booker led the Phoenix Suns with 29 points, guiding the team to a 104-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, despite the absence of Kevin Durant due to an ankle injury.
Durant exited the match with three minutes and 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter and did not return to play. He made his way to the locker room on his own, while the Suns later confirmed he sustained an ankle injury, although further details were not disclosed. He ended the night with a total of 13 points.
Although Oklahoma City clinched the top spot in West Group B during the NBA Cup, the Suns were eyeing a wild-card spot for the quarterfinals. Their hopes dashed when Dallas emerged victorious over Memphis, eliminating them from contention.
Booker reached a career milestone by scoring his first basket of the evening, pushing his total points over 15,000. He now stands second on the Suns’ all-time scoring list, trailing only Walter Davis, who holds 15,666 points.
On the Spurs’ side, rookie Victor Wembanyama contributed 15 points, all of which came in the second half, along with 13 rebounds. He struggled initially, missing all seven attempts in the first half, including six from beyond the arc.
Devin Vassell was a key contributor for San Antonio, finishing with 25 points coming off the bench, while Stephon Castle added 16 points. For the Suns, Tyus Jones also scored 16 points, and both Royce O’Neale and Bradley Beal chipped in with 10 points each.
Noteworthy returns included Jeremy Sochan for the Spurs, who made his comeback after a 13-game absence due to a left thumb injury that required surgery. He played off the bench, recording a solid performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Suns had Oso Ighodaro stepping in as the starting center, filling in for Jusuf Nurkic, who is expected to be out for at least a week due to a right thigh contusion.
One of the defining moments of the game came early when the Suns launched an explosive 11-0 run before Castle could score for the Spurs.
Notably, the Spurs struggled significantly from three-point range, converting only 8 of 44 attempts, which equates to 18%.
Looking ahead, the Spurs are set to host the Chicago Bulls on Friday, while the Suns will be on the road facing the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.
