PHOENIX — Someday quickly, the Phoenix Suns hope that their three All-Stars can be on the ground on the similar time.
Two All-Stars turned out to be lots on Wednesday evening.
Devin Booker scored 31 factors in his return from a calf damage, Kevin Durant additionally scored 31 and the Suns cruised previous the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-115.
The Timberwolves had their seven-game profitable streak snapped.
Booker returned after lacking 5 video games with a strained proper calf. It was anticipated to be the primary sport of the season that every one three Suns stars – Durant, Booker and Bradley Beal – performed collectively, however Beal was a late scratch with a sore again.
The combo of Booker and Durant offered loads of manufacturing on Wednesday. Booker shot 12 of twenty-two from the sector, including 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Durant made 11 of 15 photographs.
PHOTOS: Booker scores 31 in return from damage, Suns roll previous Timberwolves 133-115
“It’s always nice just playing,” Booker stated. “I try to give my input from the bench, but it gets old after a while. I just want to get out there and compete with the team.”
Phoenix dominated the sport for almost all of the evening, taking a six-point lead after one quarter, a 22-point lead at halftime and a 28-point benefit into the ultimate quarter. The Suns shot 60% from the sector and 55% from 3-point vary, burying what had been one of many NBA’s finest defenses over the season’s first month.
Eric Gordon scored 15 for the Suns, Grayson Allen added 14 and Drew Eubanks had 13, together with a dunk over Karl Anthony-Towns.
“I was expecting (Booker) to have a little wind in his lungs early on,” Durant stated. “But he looked great. The pop was there, playing with pace. It’s good to have our point guard back.”
Anthony-Towns led the Timberwolves with 25 factors on his twenty eighth birthday. Mike Conley had 14 factors whereas Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels all scored 13.
Minnesota had a tricky taking pictures evening, significantly behind the 3-point arc, making simply 5 of 27 (18.5%).
“It was certainly one of those nights – all credit to them,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch stated. “We could never really get them contained. They made a lot of shots, but they also had a lot of comfort. I don’t think we were able to establish ourselves defensively.”
The Suns took a 76-54 halftime lead after taking pictures 63% from the sector. Booker scored 18 factors whereas Durant added 17.
The Timberwolves had been taking part in one evening after an emotional sport in opposition to the Golden State Warriors. An altercation between Golden State’s Klay Thompson and McDaniels escalated when Draymond Green grabbed Rudy Gobert across the neck and dragged him away.
Thompson, McDaniels and Green had been all ejected. Green was given a five-game suspension by the NBA on Wednesday.
Conley stated that wasn’t an excuse for his or her mediocre efficiency on Wednesday.
“They played with much more force than we did, starting at the beginning,” Conley stated. “We had a lot of mental lapses and it took us a little too long to get into the flow of the game.”
UP NEXT
Timberwolves: Travel to New Orleans on Saturday.
Suns: Travel to Utah on Friday.
