Booker scores 29 points and Suns lose Durant to ankle injury in 104-93 win over Spurs
PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 29 points and the Phoenix Suns overcame the loss of Kevin Durant to an ankle injury to beat the San Antonio Spurs 104-93 on Tuesday night.
Durant left the game with 3:51 left in the second quarter and did not return. He made his own way to the locker room, and the Suns later said he injured his ankle without providing details. He finished with 13 points.
Although Oklahoma City won the West B group of the NBA Cup, the Suns hoped to secure a wild card spot in the quarterfinals. But they were eliminated when Dallas beat Memphis.
Booker surpassed 15,000 career points with his first basket of the night. He is behind Walter Davis (15,666) on Phoenix’s scoring list.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama scored 15 points, all in the second half, and grabbed 13 rebounds. He missed all seven shots in the first half, including six 3-pointers.
Devin Vassell led the Spurs with 25 points coming off the bench. Stephon Castle scored 16.
Tyus Jones scored 16 points and Royce O’Neale and Bradley Beal each had 10 for Phoenix.
Spurs: Jeremy Sochan returned after missing 13 games with a left thumb injury that required surgery. He came off the bench and contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Suns: Oso Ighodaro started at center for Phoenix in place of Jusuf Nurkic, who is out for at least a week with a right thigh contusion.
The Suns started the game with an 11-0 run before Castle scored for San Antonio.
The Spurs were 8 of 44 (18%) from 3-point range.
The Spurs host Chicago on Friday. The Suns visit New Orleans on Friday.
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