Devin Booker scored 28 points, and the Phoenix Suns went on a 26-4 run in the third quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 103-97 for their fourth straight win.
It was tied at 54 when Tyus Jones’ 3-pointer put the Suns ahead for good with 8:59 left in the third quarter. Kevin Durant scored 7 points as they pulled away to an 80-58 lead with 2:32 left in the quarter, and they led by as many as 26 in the fourth quarter.
The Trail Blazers got within 99-97 on Dalano Banton’s 3-pointer with 1:04 to play, but Jones answered with 2 free throws, and the Trail Blazers got no closer.
During clutch time, the Suns outscored the Trail Blazers 6-3. Booker scored 4 of the Suns’ 6 on 1 for 1 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
Durant had 21 points and 9 rebounds, and Jones added 15 points and 6 assists.
For the Trail Blazers, Anfernee Simons had 20 points (10 in the fourth quarter), 8 rebounds and 6 assists but shot 8 for 25, and Jerami Grant added 20 points (8 in the second quarter) but shot 8 for 23. All 12 of Banton’s points came in the fourth quarter.
The Suns shot 37.6% from the field and 32.7% from 3 to the Trail Blazers’ 33.3% and 32.6%. The Suns’ starters outscored the Trail Blazers 25-14 in 9 minutes together.