Suns Triumph Over Rockets with Booker’s 35 and Durant’s 24 Contributions – Sky Bulletin

PHOENIX (AP) — In a fierce NBA matchup, Devin Booker delivered a stunning 35-point performance while Kevin Durant scored 24, propelling the Phoenix Suns to a close 110-105 victory against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

The Suns are gearing up for a second round with the Rockets, set to take place on Saturday night in Phoenix.

Booker’s electrifying 20-point spree in the initial quarter established a substantial 18-point lead for the Suns, a lead they managed to maintain throughout the game. His scoring prowess has been unmatched this season, with Booker achieving at least 20 points in six quarters, more than any other NBA player.

Jusuf Nurkic proved to be a force on the court as well, securing 16 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and denying the Rockets with three blocks until he exited the game due to fouls. The Suns felt the absence of Bradley Beal, who missed his fifth consecutive game due to a hamstring issue.

Heading into the last quarter, the Suns clutched an 86-75 lead. The Rockets, however, were not ready to concede, narrowing the gap to just six points halfway through the fourth quarter. Momentarily after, Booker hit a critical 3-pointer that brought the Suns’ lead back up to nine and set off a fiery exchange between him and Houston’s Cam Whitmore, both receiving technical fouls as a result.

In the following play, Nurkic’s twin blocks on Whitmore electrified the home crowd. But the tensions remained high, leading to Houston’s Alperen Sengun fouling out and subsequently receiving two technical fouls, resulting in his ejection. After Booker made both technical free throws and Nurkic added his pair from Sengun’s foul, the Suns extended their lead to 99-84. The resilient Rockets slashed the lead to four with mere seconds on the clock, but Royce O’Neale’s clutch free throws sealed the Suns’ win.

Jalen Green topped the Rockets’ scoring with 34 points, while Fred VanVleet chipped in 21. Albeit, the Rockets’ 11 for 45 statistic from the 3-point range was a visible struggle.

The Suns, on a quest to maintain their position in the top six of the Western Conference and dodge the play-in tournament, have been performing well with seven victories in their last ten games, including nine consecutive home wins. On the contrary, the Rockets have experienced a downturn, dropping eight of their last ten matches.

The Suns initiated the bout with Booker’s genius 33-foot 3-pointer contributing to a remarkable 33-17 lead. The halftime scoreboard showcased a 64-53 Suns’ advantage with Booker at 26 points and Green with 21 for the Rockets.

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