Devin Booker scored 34 points and broke the Phoenix Suns’ all-time scoring record, but they lost their second straight game at the Portland Trail Blazers in the closing seconds of overtime, 121-119, on Monday.
Portland (21-29) extended its win streak to four. Kevin Durant had 27 points and Bradley Beal contributed in 21 off the bench for Phoenix (25-24).
Booker broke the Suns’ 38-year record during the third quarter. He had a chance to tie the game after he was fouled by Deni Avdija (24 points) on a 3-point attempt at 4.1 seconds left in OT. He missed the third free throw after he made the first two.
Former Suns starter and Blazers center Deandre Ayton (team-high 25 points, game-high 20 rebounds) was fouled after he rebounded the missed FT. He made the first of two bonus FTs, missed the second and Portland’s Jerami Grant (14 points) grabbed the final board to seal the victory.
The Suns hit 15-of-42 from deep, but struggled in the second half after they made 10 of them in the first.
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Six of the game’s 14 lead changes happened in the fourth quarter. The margin didn’t exceed three points in the final six minutes. Royce O’Neale (14 points) hit a Booker-assisted 3 at 1.7 seconds left, and Beal blocked a 3-point attempt by Anfernee Simons at the end of regulation to force the extra period. Late in the fourth and in OT, the Blazers outhustled the Suns on the 50-50 balls and rebounds.
The Blazers got a major boost from their other ex-Suns player, Toumani Camara, who hit the 5-of-7 from 3 and had 17 points.
The Suns play next at the Western Conference’s top team Oklahoma City Thunder (39-9) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. That will conclude Phoenix’s four-game road trip.
Check azcentral for live updates of scores, highlights, and statistics during the game.
Suns force overtime on O’Neale 3-pointer in closing seconds
Royce O’Neale (11 points) nailed a Devin Booker-assisted triple at 1.7 seconds left in the 4th quarter to tie the score, 107-107, before the end of regulation. The Blazers’ Anfernee Simons (11 points) had his shot blocked before the buzzer and the Sun regained possession to run out the clock.
After Kevin Durant made two free throws at one minute left, Simons hit a deep two over Durant during the Blazers’ next possession to put them back in front by one. Then Jerami Grant picked up a loose ball on a defensive lapse from the Suns and dunked it in at 14 seconds left.
O’Neale tied the game after that.
Booker makes Suns history, Blazers regain steam in 3rd quarter
Devin Booker kept his shooting touch for 28 points through the third quarter but Phoenix was down 86-80 entering the fourth.
Booker broke Walter Davis’ all-time Suns scoring record that stood since 1987. Booker caught a kick-out from Nick Richards to break the record on his third trey at 7:34 in the third period. The game was briefly stopped for Booker to take in the moment as he received congratulations from his teammates and family in the crowd.
The Suns led for most of the third, but the Blazers ended the quarter on an 18-5 run for a six-point advantage. After 1:14 remaining, Toumani Camara (14 points) hit two straight triples and hit another two seconds left.
Booker 6 points from record, Allen hits milestone in 2nd quarter
Devin Booker scored five of his game-high 17 points in the second quarter and Phoenix gained control with a 55-49 lead entering halftime. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal have 10 points each, and Beal has snared the game-high three steals.
Booker moved within six points of tying the Suns all-time scoring record, and Grayson Allen hit a personal milestone of 4,000 career points.
The Suns picked up where they left off in the opening quarter when they hit 5-of-8 from deep and drained five more in the second (10-for-20 on 3s, 20-of-42 overall). They nailed three out of their first four attempts from beyond the arc, including two from Grayson Allen. His second trey put the Suns ahead, 40-37, and Allen surpassed the 4K mark on that shot.
The Suns had an 11-0 run for their largest lead of nine at 1:29, after two straight threes by Royce O’Neale (six points, matched Beal on three steals). Their defense improved with five of their eight steals in the second but committed seven of 12 turnovers to the Blazers’ nine total.
Booker hot, Suns overcome slow start in 1st quarter
Devin Booker started on fire hitting 5-of-6 for 12 points, and Phoenix stormed back to tie the game at 31 to close the first. Kevin Durant had eight points.
The Suns had a slow start with a 19-5 deficit as the Blazers hit nine of their first 12 shots through 7:35. After the Suns committed five turnovers, they cut the lead after the quarter’s midpoint, sparked by Bradley Beal’s seven points off the bench. He nailed a buzzer-beating jump shot from mid-range to knot the score.
The Blazers’ Deni Avdija also shot a solid 5-of-6 for the team-high 11 points.
Starting lineups
The Suns are starting Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, Ryan Dunn, Kevin Durant and Nick Richards in the middle.
The Trail Blazers will open with Simons, Toumani Camara, Deni Avdija, Jerami Grant and Ayton.
Suns at full strength
Phoenix is fully healthy for the third straight game, per the team’s injury report.
Portland will be without Matisse Thybulle (ankle). Taze Moore (back) is questionable.
