Pistons Rally Back, Cruise Against Bulls
The Detroit Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls, 131-108, at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday.
The Bulls (19-41) got off to a solid start in this game and they actually jumped ahead following the first quarter (32-31), but that would be as far as they would get when it comes to leading the contest. The Pistons (34-31) turned things around in the second quarter with a 30-23 score, and they would pull away for good thanks to an impressive effort in the third quarter, where the Pistons increased their lead to 23 points. The final quarter ended with a 28-28 score, but the game was already decided and the Pistons won in emphatic fashion.
Blake Griffin led the way for the Pistons with 28 points, but he also added six rebounds and five assists. Andre Drummond chipped in with a double-double after completing 16 points and 15 rebounds. Reggie Jackson had a stellar performance as well thanks to 21 points and six assists. Wayne Ellington had 13 points, and Langston Galloway offered instant offense off the bench with 21 points in 29 minutes.
Wayne Selden led the Bulls offensively despite coming off the bench since he contributed 18 points in 28 minutes. Lauri Markkanen had 17 points with six rebounds, and Otto Porter Jr. also had 17 points with six boards. Shaquille Harrison contributed 11 points and seven assists coming off the bench, while Ryan Arcidiacono added 10 points with three rebounds and two assists.
The Bulls (19-41) got off to a solid start in this game and they actually jumped ahead following the first quarter (32-31), but that would be as far as they would get when it comes to leading the contest. The Pistons (34-31) turned things around in the second quarter with a 30-23 score, and they would pull away for good thanks to an impressive effort in the third quarter, where the Pistons increased their lead to 23 points. The final quarter ended with a 28-28 score, but the game was already decided and the Pistons won in emphatic fashion.
Blake Griffin led the way for the Pistons with 28 points, but he also added six rebounds and five assists. Andre Drummond chipped in with a double-double after completing 16 points and 15 rebounds. Reggie Jackson had a stellar performance as well thanks to 21 points and six assists. Wayne Ellington had 13 points, and Langston Galloway offered instant offense off the bench with 21 points in 29 minutes.
Wayne Selden led the Bulls offensively despite coming off the bench since he contributed 18 points in 28 minutes. Lauri Markkanen had 17 points with six rebounds, and Otto Porter Jr. also had 17 points with six boards. Shaquille Harrison contributed 11 points and seven assists coming off the bench, while Ryan Arcidiacono added 10 points with three rebounds and two assists.
Raptors Defeat Heat, 125-104
The Toronto Raptors defeated the host Miami Heat, 125-104, at American Airlines Arena on Sunday.
Miami had a great chance to win here against a shorthanded Toronto club but the Raptors won in dominating fashion. In fact, they held the lead for the final 44 minutes, as a 68-54 first half really set the tone. In fact, the Raptors held a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half, as a 34-25 fourth quarter was the dagger. Defensive rebounding was big, with the Raptors winning that battle, 38-27. Rim protection was also huge, with Toronto recording eight blocks and Miami failing to record a block. The Raptors ended up shooting 57 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point range.
The Raptors (48-17) were led by Kyle Lowry, as he tallied 24 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Pascal Siakam accrued 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Danny Green totaled 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. Norman Powell, Jeremy Lin and OG Anunoby all reached double figures in scoring off the bench.
The Heat (31-35) were led by Bam Adebayo, as he finished with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Dion Waiters totaled 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Dwyane Wade led the bench with 15 points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and Justise Winslow combined to go 7-of-31 in the starting unit.
Toronto will have to play again on Monday, as they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. As for Miami, they play host to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday for their next outing.
Miami had a great chance to win here against a shorthanded Toronto club but the Raptors won in dominating fashion. In fact, they held the lead for the final 44 minutes, as a 68-54 first half really set the tone. In fact, the Raptors held a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half, as a 34-25 fourth quarter was the dagger. Defensive rebounding was big, with the Raptors winning that battle, 38-27. Rim protection was also huge, with Toronto recording eight blocks and Miami failing to record a block. The Raptors ended up shooting 57 percent from the field and 53 percent from three-point range.
The Raptors (48-17) were led by Kyle Lowry, as he tallied 24 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Pascal Siakam accrued 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Danny Green totaled 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. Norman Powell, Jeremy Lin and OG Anunoby all reached double figures in scoring off the bench.
The Heat (31-35) were led by Bam Adebayo, as he finished with 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Dion Waiters totaled 15 points, three rebounds and three assists. Dwyane Wade led the bench with 15 points, two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Josh Richardson, Kelly Olynyk and Justise Winslow combined to go 7-of-31 in the starting unit.
Toronto will have to play again on Monday, as they travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers. As for Miami, they play host to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday for their next outing.
Sixers Defeat Pacers, 106-89
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers, 106-89, at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
A win for Philly here would tie them with Indiana for the three-seed in the east, as they won this game in dominating fashion. While there were 10 ties and seven lead changes in the first half, the Sixers rode a 55-30 second half to victory. Their defense was key, as they held the Pacers to 37 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range while forcing 14 turnovers. Free-throw shooting was critical too, with Philly hitting 23-of-30 and Indiana connecting on 22-of-37.
The Pacers (42-25) were led by Bojan Bogdanovic, as he tallied 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Darren Collison accrued 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Thaddeus Young amassed nine points, nine rebounds and three assists while Domantas Sabonis returned to provide nine points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Sixers (42-25) got Joel Embiid back from an eight-game absence, as he collected 33 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Tobias Harris accumulated 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Ben Simmons totaled 15 points, four rebounds and six assists while Jimmy Butler finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Indiana playing host to the struggling New York Knicks and Philly welcoming the Cleveland Cavaliers to Wells Fargo Center.
A win for Philly here would tie them with Indiana for the three-seed in the east, as they won this game in dominating fashion. While there were 10 ties and seven lead changes in the first half, the Sixers rode a 55-30 second half to victory. Their defense was key, as they held the Pacers to 37 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range while forcing 14 turnovers. Free-throw shooting was critical too, with Philly hitting 23-of-30 and Indiana connecting on 22-of-37.
The Pacers (42-25) were led by Bojan Bogdanovic, as he tallied 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Darren Collison accrued 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Thaddeus Young amassed nine points, nine rebounds and three assists while Domantas Sabonis returned to provide nine points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Sixers (42-25) got Joel Embiid back from an eight-game absence, as he collected 33 points, 12 rebounds and two steals. Tobias Harris accumulated 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Ben Simmons totaled 15 points, four rebounds and six assists while Jimmy Butler finished with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Both teams return to action on Tuesday, with Indiana playing host to the struggling New York Knicks and Philly welcoming the Cleveland Cavaliers to Wells Fargo Center.
Hawks Topple Pelicans, 128-116
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 128-116, at State Farm Arena on Sunday evening.
The Hawks (23-45) opened the game in less than ideal form on the defensive side of the ball, allowing the Pelicans (30-39) to forge an early 33-26 first-quarter lead. However, Atlanta gathered itself from that point forward and went on to outscore New Orleans in each of the subsequent three periods. The visitors did get to within six at the 8:01 mark of the fourth quarter, but the home squad finished on a 25-19 run from that point forward to secure the win.
Frank Jackson and Julius Randle led the way for the Pelicans with 23 points apiece while hauling in six and three rebounds, respectively. Elfrid Payton followed with a 15-point, 10-rebound 10-assist triple-double that also included one steal and one block. Anthony Davis matched Payton's scoring total and added eight boards, four assists, four blocks and one steal. Darius Miller and Ian Clark had matching 10-point tallies off the bench, with Miller also notably dishing out seven assists.
Kevin Huerter paced the Hawks with 27 points, adding four rebounds, three assists and one steal. John Collins generated a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included four blocks. Alex Len turned in 19 points, nine rebounds and one block. Kent Bazemore and Taurean Prince managed matching 13-point, five-assist contributions. DeAndre' Bembry provided 11 points and five boards, while Trae Young mustered just 10 points on 2-for-14 shooting. However, he also recorded 10 assists and brought down five rebounds.
The Pelicans head back home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, while the Hawks remain home and face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening.
The Hawks (23-45) opened the game in less than ideal form on the defensive side of the ball, allowing the Pelicans (30-39) to forge an early 33-26 first-quarter lead. However, Atlanta gathered itself from that point forward and went on to outscore New Orleans in each of the subsequent three periods. The visitors did get to within six at the 8:01 mark of the fourth quarter, but the home squad finished on a 25-19 run from that point forward to secure the win.
Frank Jackson and Julius Randle led the way for the Pelicans with 23 points apiece while hauling in six and three rebounds, respectively. Elfrid Payton followed with a 15-point, 10-rebound 10-assist triple-double that also included one steal and one block. Anthony Davis matched Payton's scoring total and added eight boards, four assists, four blocks and one steal. Darius Miller and Ian Clark had matching 10-point tallies off the bench, with Miller also notably dishing out seven assists.
Kevin Huerter paced the Hawks with 27 points, adding four rebounds, three assists and one steal. John Collins generated a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included four blocks. Alex Len turned in 19 points, nine rebounds and one block. Kent Bazemore and Taurean Prince managed matching 13-point, five-assist contributions. DeAndre' Bembry provided 11 points and five boards, while Trae Young mustered just 10 points on 2-for-14 shooting. However, he also recorded 10 assists and brought down five rebounds.
The Pelicans head back home to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night, while the Hawks remain home and face the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday evening.
Grizzlies Outmuscle Magic, 105-97
The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Orlando Magic, 105-97, at FedEx Forum on Sunday evening.
The Grizzlies (28-40) came out of the gates hot, building a 26-17 lead through the first 12 minutes. However, the resilient Magic (31-37) erased all but one point from that advantage during the second period. The second half would mostly be a back-and-forth affair, but Memphis would ultimately finish on a 21-6 run over the final 5:03 of the contest to wipe out a seven-point deficit and nearly pull off a double-digit victory. As the final score implies, the game was mostly a defensive struggle, with the Grizzlies only managing a 41.5 percent success rate from the field and Orlando draining just 35.6 percent of its attempts.
Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic with 26 points, adding 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Terrence Ross followed with 15 points and supplemented them with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Aaron Gordon collected 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Jonathan Isaac furnished 10 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block.
Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies with 26 points, supplementing them with eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Avery Bradley registered 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. C.J. Miles poured in 13 points. Jonas Valanciunas totaled 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal. Joakim Noah and Delon Wright had matching 10-point contributions off the bench while pulling down six and five rebounds, respectively.
The Magic remain on the road and face off with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday evening, while the Grizzlies pay a visit to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night as well.
The Grizzlies (28-40) came out of the gates hot, building a 26-17 lead through the first 12 minutes. However, the resilient Magic (31-37) erased all but one point from that advantage during the second period. The second half would mostly be a back-and-forth affair, but Memphis would ultimately finish on a 21-6 run over the final 5:03 of the contest to wipe out a seven-point deficit and nearly pull off a double-digit victory. As the final score implies, the game was mostly a defensive struggle, with the Grizzlies only managing a 41.5 percent success rate from the field and Orlando draining just 35.6 percent of its attempts.
Nikola Vucevic led the way for the Magic with 26 points, adding 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Terrence Ross followed with 15 points and supplemented them with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. Aaron Gordon collected 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Jonathan Isaac furnished 10 points, six rebounds, one assist and one block.
Mike Conley paced the Grizzlies with 26 points, supplementing them with eight assists, five rebounds and one steal. Avery Bradley registered 21 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. C.J. Miles poured in 13 points. Jonas Valanciunas totaled 12 points, eight rebounds, three assists, four blocks and one steal. Joakim Noah and Delon Wright had matching 10-point contributions off the bench while pulling down six and five rebounds, respectively.
The Magic remain on the road and face off with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday evening, while the Grizzlies pay a visit to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night as well.
Rockets Hold Off Mavericks
By Dan Bruno
The Houston Rockets defeated the host Dallas Mavericks, 94-93, at American Airlines Center on Sunday evening.
The contest got out to a competitive start, with multiple lead changes through the first quarter, before the Mavs took a 26-25 lead into the second. The Rockets picked it up in the second, as they took the lead early on and held the edge for the rest of the quarter, building a double-digit lead, before settling on a 58-54 lead at halftime. The Rockets stayed in control in through the third, as they outscored the Mavs by five in the quarter, to push their lead to nine, entering the fourth. The Rockets hit a rut in the fourth, as they only put up 13 points in the quarter, and while the Mavs outscored them by eight, they could not take the lead. The Rockets did just enough to stay one step ahead down the stretch, and held on for their eighth straight win. This marks the fifth straight loss for Dallas.
Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 26 points, three rebounds and one steal, in 31 minutes. James Harden followed up with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and one block, while Clint Capela tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and one steal. The Rockets shot 36 percent from the field, including 16-of-52 from long range.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 19 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks, in 37 minutes. Jalen Brunson followed up with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Maxi Kleber tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, one steal and one assist. The Mavericks shot 41 percent from the field, including 9-of-32 from deep.
The Mavs (27-39) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Spurs on Tuesday. The Rockets (41-25) play host to the Hornets on Monday.
The contest got out to a competitive start, with multiple lead changes through the first quarter, before the Mavs took a 26-25 lead into the second. The Rockets picked it up in the second, as they took the lead early on and held the edge for the rest of the quarter, building a double-digit lead, before settling on a 58-54 lead at halftime. The Rockets stayed in control in through the third, as they outscored the Mavs by five in the quarter, to push their lead to nine, entering the fourth. The Rockets hit a rut in the fourth, as they only put up 13 points in the quarter, and while the Mavs outscored them by eight, they could not take the lead. The Rockets did just enough to stay one step ahead down the stretch, and held on for their eighth straight win. This marks the fifth straight loss for Dallas.
Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 26 points, three rebounds and one steal, in 31 minutes. James Harden followed up with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and one block, while Clint Capela tallied 17 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and one steal. The Rockets shot 36 percent from the field, including 16-of-52 from long range.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic led the Mavs with 19 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocks, in 37 minutes. Jalen Brunson followed up with 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while Maxi Kleber tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, one steal and one assist. The Mavericks shot 41 percent from the field, including 9-of-32 from deep.
The Mavs (27-39) will look to bounce back as they play host to the Spurs on Tuesday. The Rockets (41-25) play host to the Hornets on Monday.
Timberwolves Pull Off Win Without Towns And Wiggins
By Dan Bruno
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the visiting New York Knicks, 103-92, at Target Center on Sunday evening.
Despite missing Andrew Wiggins (thigh) and Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), the Timberwolves rallied together for an impressive win. The contest got out to a competitive start, as the Timberwolves took a 23-22 lead after the first quarter. The Knicks made a run to take a lead early in the second, but the Timberwolves went on to outscore them by nine in the quarter, to push their lead to 10 by halftime. They carried the momentum into the third, where they pushed their lead to 15 by the halfway mark. The Knicks kept fighting, but Minnesota managed to hold a 15-point lead at the start of the fourth. The Timberwolves stayed in control through the fourth, not letting the Knicks even within 10 points, as they cruised to their second straight win.
Taj Gibson led the Timberwolves with 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist, in 30 minutes. Jeff Teague also came up large, with 20 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal, while Keita Bates-Diop tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two steals, two blocks and one assist. The Timberwolves shot 45 percent from the field, including 9-of-30 from deep.
Meanwhile, Damyean Dotson led the Knicks with 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 40 minutes. Dennis Smith Jr. finished with 13 points, four assists and two rebounds, while Alonzo Trier chipped in 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Knicks shot 43 percent from the field, including 10-of-25 from long range.
The Knicks (13-54) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pacers in Indiana on Tuesday. The Timberwolves (32-35) head to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Despite missing Andrew Wiggins (thigh) and Karl-Anthony Towns (knee), the Timberwolves rallied together for an impressive win. The contest got out to a competitive start, as the Timberwolves took a 23-22 lead after the first quarter. The Knicks made a run to take a lead early in the second, but the Timberwolves went on to outscore them by nine in the quarter, to push their lead to 10 by halftime. They carried the momentum into the third, where they pushed their lead to 15 by the halfway mark. The Knicks kept fighting, but Minnesota managed to hold a 15-point lead at the start of the fourth. The Timberwolves stayed in control through the fourth, not letting the Knicks even within 10 points, as they cruised to their second straight win.
Taj Gibson led the Timberwolves with 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals, a block and an assist, in 30 minutes. Jeff Teague also came up large, with 20 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal, while Keita Bates-Diop tallied 18 points, six rebounds, two steals, two blocks and one assist. The Timberwolves shot 45 percent from the field, including 9-of-30 from deep.
Meanwhile, Damyean Dotson led the Knicks with 26 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 40 minutes. Dennis Smith Jr. finished with 13 points, four assists and two rebounds, while Alonzo Trier chipped in 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. The Knicks shot 43 percent from the field, including 10-of-25 from long range.
The Knicks (13-54) will look to bounce back as they take on the Pacers in Indiana on Tuesday. The Timberwolves (32-35) head to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Spurs Best Bucks, 121-114
By Oscar Heanue
The San Antonio Spurs took down the Milwaukee Bucks, 121-114, at AT&T Center on Sunday evening.
San Antonio (38-29) picked up its fifth straight win in impressive fashion on Sunday, besting the league-leading Bucks (50-17). Milwaukee initially seemed poised to win in a blowout, hopping out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Spurs rallied back and had cut the deficit to only six points by halftime. In an unusual turn of events, San Antonio was given another chance to regroup in the third quarter after the game was temporarily delayed by a bat flying around the court. The Spurs were able to take the lead by the end of the third quarter, thanks largely to strong play from DeMar DeRozan. San Antonio sealed the win with a quick run at the beginning of the fourth in which it extended the lead to double digits.
LaMarcus Aldridge was the leading scorer for the Spurs with 29 points. The veteran All-Star added 15 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in the win. DeRozan, meanwhile, finished with 28 points and dished out a team-high six assists. Sunday's win moved the Spurs into a tie for sixth in the Western Conference.
For Milwaukee, MVP hopeful Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead the team. Eric Bledsoe scored another 21 points, while Brook Lopez chipped in an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. With the loss, the Bucks have now dropped three straight games on the road.
The Bucks will continue their road trip with a visit to New Orleans on Tuesday. The Spurs, meanwhile, will take a trip to Dallas to take on the Mavericks.
San Antonio (38-29) picked up its fifth straight win in impressive fashion on Sunday, besting the league-leading Bucks (50-17). Milwaukee initially seemed poised to win in a blowout, hopping out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter. However, the Spurs rallied back and had cut the deficit to only six points by halftime. In an unusual turn of events, San Antonio was given another chance to regroup in the third quarter after the game was temporarily delayed by a bat flying around the court. The Spurs were able to take the lead by the end of the third quarter, thanks largely to strong play from DeMar DeRozan. San Antonio sealed the win with a quick run at the beginning of the fourth in which it extended the lead to double digits.
LaMarcus Aldridge was the leading scorer for the Spurs with 29 points. The veteran All-Star added 15 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks in the win. DeRozan, meanwhile, finished with 28 points and dished out a team-high six assists. Sunday's win moved the Spurs into a tie for sixth in the Western Conference.
For Milwaukee, MVP hopeful Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead the team. Eric Bledsoe scored another 21 points, while Brook Lopez chipped in an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. With the loss, the Bucks have now dropped three straight games on the road.
The Bucks will continue their road trip with a visit to New Orleans on Tuesday. The Spurs, meanwhile, will take a trip to Dallas to take on the Mavericks.
Suns Take Down Warriors, 115-111
By Oscar Heanue
The Phoenix Suns upset the Golden State Warriors, 115-111, at Oracle Arena on Sunday evening.
The Suns (16-52) saw 37 points from Devin Booker as they came away with a comeback win at Golden State (45-21). Phoenix's outlook seemed bleak early on, as the Suns fell behind by as much as 16 in the first quarter. The team was able to claw back in the second, though, behind eight points in the quarter from Kelly Oubre. The Suns scored 40 points in the second and continued their strong play into the second half. Golden State found itself trailing in the fourth quarter when it took a major blow, as All-Star forward Kevin Durant went down with a turned ankle. Durant went to the locker room and did not return to the game with what was described as an "ankle contusion." Booker and the Suns were able to hang onto the lead and close out the win in the final minutes.
In addition to his strong scoring output, Booker tallied 11 assists and eight rebounds. Oubre also had a strong scoring night, tallying 22 points in total. Rookie sensation DeAndre Ayton added to his strong first-year campaign, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while taking down the defending champs.
Golden State, meanwhile, was led by 28 points from All-Star guard Klay Thompson. Two-time MVP Steph Curry finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Kevin Durant, prior to his injury, had recorded 25 points and two rebounds in 30 minutes of play. With the loss, Golden State is now just 4-6 in its last 10 games.
The Warriors will have a chance to get back on track with a visit to Houston on Wednesday. Phoenix, meanwhile, will gear up for a clash with the Utah Jazz.
The Suns (16-52) saw 37 points from Devin Booker as they came away with a comeback win at Golden State (45-21). Phoenix's outlook seemed bleak early on, as the Suns fell behind by as much as 16 in the first quarter. The team was able to claw back in the second, though, behind eight points in the quarter from Kelly Oubre. The Suns scored 40 points in the second and continued their strong play into the second half. Golden State found itself trailing in the fourth quarter when it took a major blow, as All-Star forward Kevin Durant went down with a turned ankle. Durant went to the locker room and did not return to the game with what was described as an "ankle contusion." Booker and the Suns were able to hang onto the lead and close out the win in the final minutes.
In addition to his strong scoring output, Booker tallied 11 assists and eight rebounds. Oubre also had a strong scoring night, tallying 22 points in total. Rookie sensation DeAndre Ayton added to his strong first-year campaign, finishing with 18 points, nine rebounds, and four assists while taking down the defending champs.
Golden State, meanwhile, was led by 28 points from All-Star guard Klay Thompson. Two-time MVP Steph Curry finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Kevin Durant, prior to his injury, had recorded 25 points and two rebounds in 30 minutes of play. With the loss, Golden State is now just 4-6 in its last 10 games.
The Warriors will have a chance to get back on track with a visit to Houston on Wednesday. Phoenix, meanwhile, will gear up for a clash with the Utah Jazz.