PHOENIX SUNS

Suns can’t complete comeback against Raptors as offense sputters

Nov 29, 2023, 8:16 PM | Updated: Nov 30, 2023, 9:12 am

YouTube video

TORONTO (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, Pascal Siakam finished with 22 and the Toronto Raptors beat Phoenix 112-105 on Wednesday night to end the Suns’ winning streak at seven.

Kevin Durant scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter for Phoenix after missing two games because of a sore foot, while fellow star Devin Booker had only eight points. The Suns lost for the first time since a Nov. 12 loss at home against Oklahoma City.

Durant made 11 of 30 attempts and shot 2 for 8 from beyond the arc. He has scored 30 or more points in six straight games, the longest active streak in the NBA.

“I don’t feel like I’m ever out of rhythm,” Durant said. “I just missed shots.”

Booker hobbled to the bench early in the second half after stepping on Dennis Schroder’s foot, but was able to return.

“I don’t know if it got stiffer but I wasn’t going to spend the rest of the night trying to beat people off the dribble,” Booker said.

Booker, who beat New York on Sunday night with a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left, missed a 3 that would have tied it with 50 seconds remaining.

“I knew that one was left a bit,” Booker said.

Booker shot 2 for 12, going 0 for 4 on 3-pointers.

Phoenix coach Frank Vogel said he wasn’t sure whether Booker would be able to play when the Suns host the defending NBA-champion Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

“We’ll see how it responds overnight,” Vogel said. “You never know with ankles.”

Jusuf Nurkic had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Suns, who shot 7 for 26 from 3-point range, matching their fewest made 3-pointers this season.

“I just think the lid was on the basket tonight,” Durant said. “I feel like we got good looks, we just didn’t finish.”

Eric Gordon and Josh Okogie each scored 10 points but Phoenix lost despite outsourcing Toronto 28-14 on second-chance points.

Barnes made four field goals in the fourth quarter, one more than he’d made through the first three quarters combined.

“Scottie Barnes is a winner,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “When you coach him, you just feel that energy, you feel him on the bench the way he’s energizing the whole team.”

Schroder had a season-high 12 assists to help the Raptors win for the first time in three games. Precious Achiuwa had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Jakob Poeltl scored 17 points, and O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. each had 13.

The Raptors, who lost at Brooklyn on Tuesday night, were delayed flying home from New York and didn’t land in Toronto until 4 a.m., but showed no ill effects from their short night of rest.

“We have to understand that we have to start the game better than we started today,” Nurkic said. “They played last night. We should be starting the game better.”

Phoenix Suns

Suns...

Kellan Olson

Suns use strong defensive energy to handle Warriors

A backbone strong enough to support the Phoenix Suns even when their stars aren't cooking is how they can be an elite team and we saw a glimpse of that possibility on Saturday in a 113-105 win over the Golden State Warriors.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant drives past Brooklyn Nets defender...

Payne Moses

Block party: Suns’ Kevin Durant stuffs Warriors’ Lindy Waters III, blocks 3 shots in Phoenix win

Kevin Durant might have eaten an extra helping of stuffing on Thanksgiving, as he had three blocks Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns' Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic defend Los Angeles Lakers' Anthony Davis...

Payne Moses

Suns’ Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic both out ahead of Warriors matchup with leg injuries

Phoenix Suns' starters Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic were ruled out of Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors with leg-related injuries.

1 day ago

Suns' Bradley Beal...

Damon Allred

Suns’ Bradley Beal questionable vs. Warriors, Kevin Durant not on injury report

Kevin Durant is not on the Phoenix Suns' injury report while Bradley Beal is questionable for Saturday's game against the Golden State Warriors.

2 days ago

Mascots "Sparky" of the Arizona State Sun Devils and "wilbur" of the Arizona Wildcats wrestle durin...

Kevin Zimmerman

Appreciating the Territorial Cup: What we’re thankful for at Arizona Sports in 2024

The Territorial Cup rivalry is weird. Let's take a minute to appreciate it beyond the football field, even though this ASU against Arizona game is huge.

4 days ago

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns is pressured by Tyrese Martin #13 of the Brooklyn Nets and Shak...

Kellan Olson

Suns lose focus against depleted Nets in poor home loss

We've all had those days at the office when we're mentally checked out the day before going on vacation or celebrating a holiday, and that sure looked like what we saw from the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday in a 127-117 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

4 days ago

Suns can’t complete comeback against Raptors as offense sputters