A 32-point, eight-assist outing courtesy of Devin Booker propelled the Phoenix Suns to a 108-104 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco to open the season.
The 26-year-old hit on 13 of his 21 field goal attempts and three of his eight threes to go along with six rebounds and a steal as the Suns overcame a slow start to the second half to earn their first win of the new year.
Kevin Durant had a tough night shooting in his first game in front of the Warriors faithful since departing the franchise he helped deliver a pair of titles to finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds on 7-of-22 shooting.
With prized offseason acquisition Bradley Beal watching from the sideline with a back issue, it was on several of Phoenix’s role guys to step up.
Jusuf Nurkić had a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double in his Suns debut whilst Josh Okogie had 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a handful of tide-turning hustle plays.
Eric Gordon finished with 10 points on just 4-of-16 shooting off the bench whilst Drew Eubanks added eight rebounds and three blocks in just 19 minutes.
The affair proved a rollercoaster from the outset with Phoenix jumping out to an early double-digit lead before the Warriors stormed back to snatch their own lead only for a late flurry to hand the visitors a 15-point half-time edge.
Golden State outscored Phoenix 40-19 in a huge third quarter and threatened to run away with it before a double-digit Suns surge drove them to a spirited road win.
Despite allowing 22 points off 19 turnovers and attempting 11 less free throws than the Warriors, Phoenix managed to hold their opponents to just 35.6 per cent (36-of-101) shooting from the field and 23.3 per cent (10-of-43) from three.
They also won the rebounding and paint points battle with the Dubs struggling to build any ascendancy on the interior in the absence of Draymond Green who was nursing an ankle injury.
Stephen Curry finished with 27 points on 8-of-20 shooting but spent much of the final frame contending with foul trouble.
Klay Thompson added 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting whilst Chris Paul put up 14 points, six rebounds, and nine assists in his Warriors debut.
The Dubs are back in action against the Kings – who they knocked out of the playoffs last season – in Sacramento on Saturday whilst the Suns face the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday.
