Despite double-digit leads after each of the first two quarters, the (14-13) lost to the (7-19). Kevin Durant scored 40 on 28 shots, but the Portland bench outscored Phoenix’s 43-14.
Game Flow
A few things caught my eye early, from the Suns working to detach Toumani Camara from Devin Booker to Jusuf Nurkic taking it to Deandre Ayton.
Booker missed his first two good looks, but found his shot afterward, tallying five points and one assist as Phoenix got out to a 15-7 lead. Nurkic was able to get his body into Ayton to neutralize the defense for his first bucket, and he poked the ball away from Ayton coming back down the other end.