Booker struggles, Suns fall to Thunder in NBA Cup

On By Littum

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The Phoenix Suns (9-4), without both Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal for the second straight game, fell 99-83 at Oklahoma City Thunder (11-2).

OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block.

Devin Booker struggled for Phoenix, scoring 12 points on a meager 20% shooting in the Suns’ first loss in NBA Cup Western Conference Group B play. Josh Okogie led the Suns with 15 points and Royce O’Neale had 11 off the bench.

Phoenix trailed by double digits for most of the game starting early in the first quarter and never gained ground. The Thunder’s biggest lead was 25 in the fourth quarter.

Suns coach Mike Budenholzer conceded the loss when he pulled his starters for good with 5:11 left to play. They shot just 29.3% to the Thunder’s 39.6%.

The Suns play the finale of their four-game road trip at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday at 1:30 p.m

Check out azcentral for scores, highlights and stats during the Suns-Thunder game.

Suns’ deficit widens in Q3

Phoenix is ​​still out of sync, down 83-60 in the final quarter.

Booker (six points) made his first field goal on a driving layup at 9:16, and is shooting a paltry 2-of-10. The Suns’ leading scorers are Josh Okogie and Royce O’Neale with 12 and 11 points.

The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter to lead all scorers. He extended the game’s biggest margin to 24 on a bucket in the restricted area nearing the one-minute mark. They have dominated the Suns in the paint, 34-18, and have 10 blocks to the Suns’ three.

Booker, Sun’s shooting struggles continue in 2nd quarter

Josh Okogie had the Suns’ game-high 12 points, but they continued to struggle collectively in the second quarter, down 48-36 at the half to the Thunder.

They are shooting just 26.8% overall, and their biggest deficit was 18 on a trey by Aaron Wiggins (seven points) around six minutes.

Booker remains scoreless (0-for-6 FG, three rebounds, three assists, one block). He didn’t get a shot attempt in the second period and his frustration seemed to mount. He was substituted after getting an offensive foul call after he pushed Lu Dort, who was face shielding him, out of bounds during an ATO play with 4:52 left. Dort had her hands on her chest and was playing him tight, their arms entwined.

Phoenix began to turn things around late in the second quarter as they went on an 11-5 run.

Booker, Suns stormed through the 1st quarter

Phoenix couldn’t find its offensive rhythm in the opening quarter, down 29-14 after the Thunder took advantage.

Booker is struggling 0-for-6 from the field and didn’t score in 1. Bradley Beal’s replacement Josh Okogie had seven points, getting off to another fast start after his career-high 25 points in their loss at Sacramento on Wednesday.

After the 6:19 mark, Gilgeous-Alexander (nine points, two steals) led the Thunder on a 15-2 run to extend their largest lead to 17 at just under the two-minute mark. The Suns went through a cold shooting as they missed 15 of their last 16 attempts. They have shot an abysmal 3-of-21, including 1-of-11 from the arc entering the second quarter.

Starting lineups

The Suns’ starting five is Tyus Jones, Booker, Josh Okogie, Ryan Dunn and Jusuf Nurkic (ankle), who has been ruled out.

The Thunder will open with Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort at the four and two-guard Isaiah Joe.

Thunder’s Holmgren remains out

Phoenix’s Grayson Allen (hamstring) and Jusuf Nurkic (left ankle sprain) are questionable and Collin Gillespie (right ankle fracture) is out.

OKC’s top big and rising star Chet Holmgren (right hip bone) is out eight to 10 weeks. The Thunder are also without their offseason addition Alex Caruso (hip) against the Suns.

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