Devin Booker scored 30 points, while Eric Gordon added 21 off the bench as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Atlanta Hawks 128-115 on Thursday night.
Phoenix’s victory was mainly due to their excellent long-range shooting, making 22 of 41 3-pointers. Booker hit six 3s, while Gordon and Royce O’Neale each added four. Kevin Durant contributed 19 points, and Grayson Allen had 13 for the Hawks.
The Suns now stand 12 games above .500 for the first time this season with a record of 41-29. They have won six of their last nine games. Booker had another strong performance, making 10 of 15 shots and hitting three crucial 3s in the fourth quarter to secure the win over the Hawks.
“This is what we expect from our team, given the talent we have,” said Booker. The Hawks have struggled recently, losing five of their last six games. Dejounte Murray led the Hawks with 29 points, and De’Andre Hunter added 22.
The Suns held a five-point lead at halftime and maintained a slim 96-93 lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, the Suns made a significant push, with O’Neale, Gordon, and Bol Bol hitting 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions to extend their lead to 112-98. The Suns received a strong contribution from their bench, scoring 47 points on 17 of 24 shooting.
Despite facing adversity in the second half, including Booker’s foul trouble and Jusuf Nurkic’s injury, the Suns managed to secure the win.
Phoenix is striving to avoid the play-in tournament in the Western Conference, with the top six teams advancing directly to the first round. Currently tied for sixth with Dallas, the Suns are determined to finish in the top six.
Durant achieved another milestone in his career, hitting his 2,000th 3-pointer, becoming the 16th player in NBA history to reach that mark.
