In a thrilling showcase of resilience and talent during Monday’s NBA action, the Phoenix Suns overcame a significant deficit to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-111.
Kevin Durant led the scoring with 37 points, while Devin Booker marked his return from injury with 27 points, propelling the Suns ahead of Sacramento for the sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
“Book’s communication has been on-point, always, but his intangibles are what we missed the most,” Durant said. “It’s good to have him out there with his talent and I’m glad he was able to get his feet wet in a tight game, too.”
The Suns faced a challenging situation, trailing by 19 points in the second quarter, but mounted a 43-15 run to claw back into the game. Booker’s crucial transition score put Phoenix in the lead with seven minutes left, a lead they maintained until the end.
Suns coach Frank Vogel praised the synergy between Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal, highlighting the team’s potential for excellence. Beal contributed 24 points, with Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic adding to the team’s effort.
“We’ve got a chance to be elite with (Durant, Booker and Beal), so we’re grateful to have them all back,” Vogel said. “That type of game becomes a slugfest, but you could see the work Devin put in while he was out. He had a great performance.”
The Cavaliers, despite being short-handed due to injuries, fought valiantly with Darius Garland scoring 30 points and Caris LeVert adding a double-double. Cleveland’s efforts fell short in the final moments, marred by critical turnovers.
Cleveland’s coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Suns’ Vogel both commented on Donovan Mitchell‘s ineligibility for All-NBA consideration due to missing games, expressing dissatisfaction with the criteria that sideline top performers like Mitchell and Joel Embiid from recognition.
As the Suns continue their road trip with high-profile matchups, and the Cavaliers look to rebound against New Orleans, both teams carry forward lessons from a game that highlighted the Suns’ depth and the Cavaliers’ resilience.
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