Suns clinch playoff spot, rout injury-riddled Spurs 115-94

PHOENIX (AP) — Devin Booker scored 27 pointsand the Phoenix Suns never trailed, beating the depleted SanAntonio Spurs 115-94 on Tuesday night to clinch a playoff spot.

The Suns (44-35) won their sixth in a row, the longest currentwinning streak in the NBA. With one more victory in the final threegames, Phoenix would assure itself of at least the No. 4 seed inthe Western Conference and home-court advantage in the firstround.

Chris Paul scored 22 points, while Deandre Ayton had 19 pointsand 11 rebounds. Kevin Durant scored 18 points and reserve TorreyCraig added 15.

The Suns are 7-0 when Durant has been in their lineup.

Malaki Branham led the Spurs with 21 points. Tre Jones scored20, while Keita Bates-Diop and Sandro Mamukelashvili each had13.

The Spurs (20-59) only dressed 10 players. They were withouttheir top two scorers, Keldon Johnson (right foot sprain) and DevinVassell (left knee). Also out for San Antonio were Zach Collins(finger), Jeremy Sochan (right knee soreness) and Romeo Langford(left adductor).

And during Tuesday’s game, Doug McDermott played six minutes andlimped off with an apparent knee injury. Dominick Barlow was hurtin a fourth-quarter collision, and starter Devonte’ Graham washelped to the locker room late in the game after hurting hisleg.

San Antonio entered the night ranked last in scoring defense,having allowed 122.8 points per game. Phoenix came out roaring,shooting 63% in the first quarter in building a 42-25 lead. That’sthe most the Suns have scored in the first quarter this season,passing the 40 points against Chicago on March 3.

Booker had 14 points in the first quarter.

The Suns led by as many as 31 points in the second quarter andwere up 69-51 at the half. Paul made 7 of 8 shots in the half tolead the Suns with 18 points. Phoenix shot 56% and San Antonio 38percent, with the Suns outrebounding the Spurs 30-20.

The Spurs got within nine in the third quarter, but by the endof the period Phoenix was back ahead 97-76. Booker scored 13 in thequarter to lead Phoenix.

MUTUAL ADMIRATION

Suns coach Monty Williams played for Gregg Popovich with theSpurs and coached under him as well.

“I just enjoy seeing him and I’m grateful for the history I havewith him,” Williams said before the game. “I’m grateful that I getto tell people outside of basketball that I know Gregg Popovich asa man, as a mentor, as a friend.”

Popovich may not have enjoyed Tuesday’s result, but he tooadmires what Williams and the Suns have done.

No matter who’s playing, Popovich said of Williams, “He’s gonnacoach. He’s going to do the same things, have the same standards,the same accountability. Kick ’em in the butt when necessary, putan arm around them and love ’em when necessary. He’s a goodman.”

DURANT, TOO

Popovich coached the Olympic gold-medal team in 2021 and sawDurant from the same bench.

“He was great. I love him,” Popovich said. “How do you stop him?You can’t. There’s no way you can stop him. Now you can double-teamhim, and he’s smart enough to give it up. No matter what happens,they’ll figure out what they need to do.”

NEXT

Spurs: Play Portland on Thursday in Austin, Texas.

Suns: Host Denver Thursday.