Devin Booker did all he could to extend the Phoenix Suns’ winning streak to a season-high eight games.
Alas, Booker’s season-high 62-point performance came in a loss on Friday. The three-time All-Star will look to shake off his team’s setback on Sunday when the Suns continue a seven-game road trip against the Orlando Magic.
Booker didn’t miss a beat following his 46-point effort in Phoenix’s 132-109 win at Dallas on Wednesday. He erupted for a 29-point first quarter on Friday, however, the Suns let a 17-point lead go by the boards in a 133-131 setback to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
“Just a spectacular player,” Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said of Booker, who made 22 of 37 shots from the floor, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range.
“I think he should’ve been voted to be an All-Star starter, personally. I think the whole world can see that. He will be in that game when coaches vote. But what a special performance.”
Kevin Durant, who was voted as a starter for the exhibition game in Indianapolis on Feb. 18, finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists on Friday. He scored 31 points and Booker added 21 in the Suns’ 112-107 victory over the Magic on Dec. 31.
Eric Gordon scored 12 of his 14 points during the first half on Friday. He was making his return from a two-game absence due to a sore wrist.
Jusuf Nurkic sustained a left thumb injury during the third quarter on Friday. He did not return to the game.
Orlando lost for the seventh time in nine games on Friday following a 107-106 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Paolo Banchero scored a team-high 27 points. He passed the ball to Joe Ingles for a 3-pointer during the waning moments of Friday’s game, but Ingles was unable to sink the potential game-winning shot.
“I trust Joe to hit that shot,” Banchero said. “I thought it was going in. It looked good, but it rattled out.”
Such has been life for Orlando, which followed a 16-7 start to the season with losses in 15 of its past 22 games.
“I think we’ve just got to come together as much as we can, pick up the communication, pick up the intensity, and get back to being together as a group,” Banchero said. “We’ve got to fight through (the grind of the season), push through it, come together as a group, and be there for each other and have each other’s back.”
Banchero scored 28 points and Franz Wagner added 27 in the first encounter with Phoenix. Banchero boasts team-leading averages in points (22.6), rebounds (7.0) and assists (4.9) on the season, while Wagner contributes 20.6, 5.6 and 3.9, respectively.
To add injury to insult on Friday, Jalen Suggs sustained a bruised left knee following a collision during the first quarter. He was ruled out for the game at halftime. His availability for Sunday’s game was uncertain.
–Field Level Media