Suns Strokes: Jackson, Bender put in career-best work in win over Thunder

PHOENIX — The timeline may have just been accelerated.

In what was easily the best games of their young careers, Dragan Bender, the fourth overall pick in 2016, and Josh Jackson, the fourth overall pick in 2017, combined for 37 bench-points to help lead the Phoenix Suns past visiting Oklahoma City, 114-100, in front of a sold out Talking Stick Resort Arena on Sunday night.

Bender set career-highs in points (20), field goals (seven), 3-pointers (six) and minutes (39). He tied his career-high in assists with four while adding six rebounds and three blocks.

Jackson set career-highs in rebounds (10), assists (five) and 3-pointers (three) as he recorded his first-ever double-double.

Devin Booker and T.J. Warren had 26 and 23 points, respectively, for the Suns (16-26), who snapped a two-game losing steak and have now beaten the Thunder three straight times.

The Suns did not trail over the last three quarters, seeing their lead grow to as large as 18.

The 14-point win tied for their largest margin of victory this season.

The Suns made a season-high 17 3-pointers and committed a season-low nine turnovers; the latter stat made even more impressive considering the Thunder entered the game leading the league by forcing their opponents into 16.6 turnovers per game.

Four players reached double-figures in scoring for the Thunder, including Russell Westbrook, who had his 14th triple-double of the season and 93rd of his career with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

Oklahoma City (22-18) had won two straight and three in a row on the road.

THE GOOD

After Booker exited with his second foul, the Suns responded with a 12-1 run over the final 4:38 of opening period to take a 28-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. Jackson scored all seven of his first-quarter points during the run. He had a dunk, fastbreak layup and step-back 3-pointer, the latter of which capped the Suns’ scoring for the period.

A 34-point second quarter was highlighted by Warren (13 points) and Booker (nine). Warren made 5-of-9 shot attempts plus hit three free throws. He also added four rebounds and an assist while playing all 12 minutes. Meanwhile, Booker went just 2-of-4 from the field but both makes were 3-pointers. He also hit three free throws.

Two more 3-pointers, a 14-foot step-back jumper plus five free throws added up to a 13-point third quarter for Booker. And he did that playing 10 of the 12 minutes in the period. Booker’s second 3-pointer put the Suns up 74-60 at the 7:56 mark. The 14-point lead, at the time, was the Suns’ largest advantage of the game.

Quite the performances by Bender and Jackson. Bender became just the fourth player in Suns history to record at least six 3-pointers and at least three blocks in the same game. Meanwhile, Jackson is the first Suns rookie to have at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game since Joe Johnson on Feb. 22, 2002.

THE BAD

At the 9:00 mark of the second quarter, Marquese Chriss was spotted holding his right hip as he walked towards the bench during a timeout. He went into the locker room where he was diagnosed with a right hip strain. The Suns listed him doubtful to return, and he did not. Chriss played 10 minutes, scoring two points on a pair of free throws with two assists and one blocked shot. He is listed as day-to-day.

For a stretch in the second quarter, it was all Westbrook. He attacked the basket on three straight possessions, twice scoring on driving layups and hitting an eight-foot driving bank shot. Westbrook wasn’t done. He added another driving layup two possessions later. Overall, Westbrook scored 12 points, all inside the paint, on 6-of-11 shooting from the field in the period.

Though they never surrendered the lead in the third quarter, the Suns allowed the Thunder to get back in the ballgame. Westbrook and Steven Adams each had four points, while Paul George added three in an 11-0 run that pulled the visitors to within 76-75 at the 5:03 mark. The Suns went more than two minutes (2:17 to be exact) between made field goals and turned the ball over once.

STAT OF THE GAME

17: The Suns’ 17 3-pointers were their most in a game since making 19 in a win against Charlotte on Jan. 6, 2016. It was also the ninth-highest total in franchise history.

HE SAID IT

“We’re trying to develop young players here and they both stepped up big time today and it was great,” interim head coach Jay Triano said, referring to Bender and Jackson. “I thought they really played well together. Josh would drive and kick and find Dragan on the perimeter and I think there’s a comfort level really developing with those two.”

NOTED

– Booker is averaging 26.9 points in the seven games since returning from injury.

– Tyson Chandler (13 rebounds) recorded his fifth straight game with 10+ boards.

– Jared Dudley played six minutes; he had been inactive (illness) for three games.

– Greg Monroe was a DNP-Coach’s Decision for the seventh time in eight games.

– Isaiah Canaan missed his second straight game because of a left adductor strain.

– Brandon Knight, Alec Peters, Davon Reed and Alan Williams were listed inactive.

UP NEXT

Call it a mini All-Star break.

The Suns are off for the next four days, their second-longest break of the season, before they host the James Harden-less Houston Rockets on Friday, Jan. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes earlier on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Harden is dealing with a hamstring strain he suffered Dec. 31.

This will be the second of four meetings.

The Rockets won the first matchup, scoring a Suns opponent record 90 points in the first half on the way to a 142-116 victory on Nov. 16. Harden scored 48 points, including 33 in the first half, shooting 18-of-18 from the free throw line.

Overall, the Suns have lost five straight and 12 of the last 14 in the series.

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