PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns won their third-straight game for the first time since early November after Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 57 to narrowly beat the Charlotte Hornets 120-113.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Their last three-game win streak came during their 8-1 start when they won seven-straight before losing Durant to injury. Today, the All-Star Phoenix duo gave the Suns the jolt they needed in the fourth quarter. Booker poured in 30 points (10-20 FG) and was flanked by Durant’s 27 (11-24 FG) to overcome a career Mark Williams night (21 points, 16 rebounds) and a 24-point outing by LaMelo Ball.
Here are the takeaways from Phoenix outlasting the Hornets to close out its three-game homestand lossless:
– After missing six games with a left ankle sprain, Suns forward Royce O’Neale returned to the lineup. Center Jusuf Nurkic, however, tested positive for the flu and was listed out and likely won’t travel with the team ahead of their five-game road trip that starts in Atlanta.
– DaQuan Jefferies (illness), Tre Mann (disc irritation) and Grant Williams (right ACL tear) were out for the Hornets. Charlotte’s last game played was against the Suns on Jan. 7 as their last two games against the Clippers and Lakers we postponed due to the wildfires in Los Angeles.
– Phoenix didn’t score its first points until 9:17 in the opening quarter after the Hornets got out to an early 8-0 lead. Charlotte started the game out with similar energy to their Jan. 7 game against the Suns and, behind seven early Mark Williams points, started the game up 13-5 with 7:22 this time around.
– Bradley Beal, who was recently moved to the bench along with Jusuf Nurkic, subbed in at the 7:22 mark and gave Phoenix 10 quick points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field (2-for-2 from deep). Beal averaged 18.0 points per game in four games off the bench entering Sunday, including two 25-point outbursts where he led the Suns in scoring both times.
– Hornets All-Star guard LaMelo Ball lifted Charlotte in the first quarter with nine points, three rebounds and five assists on 3-for-7 shooting and (3-of-6 from 3-point range. Beal and Kevin Durant led the charge for the Suns with 10 and seven points respectively as Phoenix trailed the Hornets 34-28 after one quarter.
– In Jusuf Nurkic’s absence, Hornets center Mark Williams feasted in the paint, forcing switches on pick-and-rolls to gain position inside and snagging rebounds to score 18 points (8-9 FG) and grab 11 rebounds in 13 minutes of play to give Charlotte a 52-45 lead with 6:12 remaining in the second quarter.
Jan 12, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) reacts after a basket against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
– Thirteen points (three 3s) off the bench from Grayson Allen and 10 second-quarter points from Devin Booker brought the Suns back in the game. Despite 22 points and 13 rebounds from Mark Williams and 13 points and six assists from LaMelo Ball in the first half, Phoenix was able to erase a 12-point Hornets lead and go into halftime tied 62-62.
– Suns rookie center Oso Ighodaro got the starting nod in the second half over Mason Plumlee. He had two points and four rebounds and was a +11 in the first half. Grayson Allen (left knee soreness) was ruled out for the remainder of the game after the break. He helped Phoenix regain momentum with 13 points in 13 minutes.
– Devin Booker (11) and Kevin Durant (10) were responsible for all of Phoenix’s second half points through the first nine minutes of the third quarter. Only three other players (Ryan Dunn, Tyus Jones and Royce O’Neale) attempted a shot and did not make one. With 3:16 left in the quarter, the Hornets broke ahead 91-83 behind 45 combined points from LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams.
Jan 12, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
– Devin Booker scored 27 points through the first three quarters and was one of five Suns in double figures to that points. Kevin Durant (19 points on 7-of-25 FG) and Bradley Beal (15 on 5-of-10 FG) were behind Booker. A late surge in the third quarter with Durant off the floor powered by Booker and Beal closed the gap and brought the Suns to within five points, trailing the Hornets 98-93 ahead of the final quarter.
– After trailing for much of the second half, Kevin Durant scored eight points in the fourth quarter to give the Suns a 111-110 lead with 3:03 remaining after a LaMelo Ball turnover.
– It was Phoenix’s role players that got them to the finish line in this one. An Oso Ighodaro dunk to put the Suns up by two was followed by a dagger Royce O’Neale corner three to get them up five en route to a 120-113 win over the Hornets.
– Phoenix now embarks on a five-game road trip over 10 days starting against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
