Booker scores 32 as Suns hold off Thunder 123-120

<p>OKLAHOMA CITY &mdash; Devin Booker scored 32 points, and the Phoenix Suns held off the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-120 on Sunday night.</p>
<p>Former Thunder guard Chris Paul had 18 points and 11 assists, and Torrey Craig added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who shot 54%. Phoenix entered the night one-half game behind Utah for the best record in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>Phoenix led 119-103 with 3:29 remaining before the Thunder closed the game on a 17-4 run. Oklahoma City was coming off a 152-95 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, the worst home loss in NBA history.</p>
<p>Darius Bazley had 19 points and nine rebounds and Theo Maledon added 18 points for the Thunder, who have lost 20 of 22.</p>
<p>Booker scored 16 points in the first half to help Phoenix take a 64-57 lead. Craig had 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting to help the Suns shoot 58% before the break.</p>
<p>Phoenix led 98-85 after three quarters. Booker scored 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field in the period.</p>
<p>Paul hit a contested 3-pointer from beyond the top of the key as the shot clock expired to give the Suns a 110-94 lead with just over 7 minutes to play.</p>
<p>Oklahoma City made a final surge. Isaiah Roby dunked and was fouled with just under a minute to play. He made the free throw to make it a 121-116 game. </p>
<p>Booker was called for an offensive foul, giving the Thunder the ball back. Booker was called for a technical for disagreeing with the call, and Maledon made the free throw to make it 121-117. </p>
<p>Dort was sent to the line after apparently being fouled while shooting a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining. Phoenix challenged and it was successful, leading to a jump ball. Phoenix won the jump ball, and a scramble for the ball ran the clock down to six seconds before Mikal Bridges made two free throws to put the game out of reach. </p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Suns: Beat Oklahoma City 140-103 in their previous meeting on April 2, the start of a 14-game Thunder losing streak. … Booker scored 12 points in the first quarter. … Opened the second quarter on a 14-1 run. … Bridges scored 17 points.</p>
<p>Thunder: Shot 57% in the first quarter to take a 33-27 lead. … Forward Aleksej Pokusevski returned after missing Saturday’s game against Indiana with a bruised left knee, then left Sunday’s game with the same injury. The rookie finished with four points and two assists in 10 minutes. … Ty Jerome and Kenrich Williams each scored 15 points.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Suns: Visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Thunder: Host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.</p>

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