Kevin Durant scored 32 points and Devin Booker added 25 on Wednesday, which was enough for the Phoenix Suns, who nearly blew a 23-point lead in the second half of their 123-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
The Suns slogged through a technical-filled game that nearly ended in a turnover-filled nightmare, but in the end was their fifth straight win.
The Suns had an 83-60 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Warriors cut the advantage to 118-115 with 19 seconds left after Durant was called for a technical foul.
Photo: AFP
Booker made a pair of free throws with 12.4 seconds left to thwart the rally.
“We have to do better,” Booker said. “Simple as that. We have to take care of the ball, no turnovers, get stops. When that game’s at 10, 15 points in the fourth, don’t give any team hope, don’t gave any team confidence.”
Durant and Booker combined to go 28 for 29 on free throws. The Suns were 44 of 52 as a team.
Photo: AFP
The Warriors have lost seven of their past eight games, falling to 7-9 for the season.
“Foul, foul, foul, foul,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Can’t win in the NBA if you’re constantly trying to attack a set defense after free throws and you’re basically giving up 44 points.”
Golden State point guard Chris Paul was ejected by referee Scott Foster in his return to the desert after receiving two technicals late in the second quarter for arguing.
Photo: AP
He finished with six points and six assists.
“I didn’t think Chris deserved to be ejected,” Kerr said. “The first tech? Absolutely, but I thought the second one was unnecessary. Everybody gets frustrated out there, but that’s up to the official.”
Paul and Foster have a long, acrimonious history, with the point guard complaining about Foster’s officiating for nearly a decade.
Paul said that the issue involves his son.
“It’s personal,” Paul said. “We had a situation some years ago and it’s personal. The league knows, everybody knows. There’s been a meeting and all that. It’s just a situation with my son. I’m OK with a ref saying whatever — just don’t use a tech to get your point across.”
“I’ve got to do a better job of making sure I’m staying on the floor for my teammates, but that’s that,” he said.
Paul declined to provide additional details of the situation with his son, although he said it happened when he was with the Los Angeles Clippers, who he played for from 2011 to 2017.
In San Antonio, Texas, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich staged an impromptu mid-game intervention as disgruntled fans targeted former player Kawhi Leonard during their home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Clippers ace Leonard, who made an acrimonious departure from San Antonio in 2018, was subjected to loud booing as he lined up to take free throws near the end of the second quarter.
The heckling drew the ire of San Antonio’s famously gruff veteran coach Popovich, who grabbed a courtside microphone to address the home fans directly.
“Excuse me for a second, please stop all the booing, let these guys play, and show a little class,” Popovich barked. “It’s not who we are. Knock off the booing.”
“You don’t poke the bear,” Popovich said after the game. “Anybody who knows anything about sports knows you don’t poke the bear. That’s my answer.”
Leonard later brushed off the catcalls, saying it was to be expected.
“If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on they’re probably gonna boo me for the rest of my career,” he told reporters after the game. “It is what it is. They’re one of the best fanbases in the league and they’re competitive, and when I step on this basketball court I can hear that.”
The Clippers won 109-102.
Additional reporting by AFP
Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:
‧ Hawks 147, Nets 145 (OT)
‧ Thunder 116, Bulls 102
‧ Hornets 117, Wizards 114
‧ Magic 124, Nuggets 119
‧ Celtics 119, Bucks 116
‧ Cavaliers 96, Heat 129
‧ Pacers 131, Raptors 132
‧ Rockets 111, Grizzlies 91
‧ Timberwolves 112, 76ers 99
‧ Pelicans 117, Kings 112
‧ Trail Blazers 121, Jazz 105
‧ Lakers 101, Mavericks 104
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