Devin Booker scores 25 points, Suns beat Thunder 124-115

PHOENIX (AP)— The Phoenix Suns are still looking forward to the debut ofrecently acquired superstar Kevin Durant.

While theywait, Devin Booker isn’t a bad backup plan.

Booker scored25 points, Chris Paul added 16 and the Phoenix Suns beat theOklahoma City Thunder 124-115 on Friday night.

Booker’s hadhis own injury problems this season, missing chunks of time withhamstring and groin issues. He got back on the floor a few weeksago and looks back to his old high-scoring self.

“I feelgreat,” Booker said. “I’m trying to get wind all the way back.Games like this are important for that. When you have injuries tothe lower half of your body, you can’t really condition.”

SurgingPhoenix has won 12 of 16.

Terrence Rossmade a 3-pointer at the third quarter buzzer to put the Suns up94-87. Phoenix led the rest of the way and Booker’s 3-pointer withtwo minutes left gave the Suns an 11-point lead.

It also gavethe three-time All-Star 1,052 career 3-pointers, which broke SteveNash’s franchise record.

Isaiah Joeled Oklahoma City with a career-high 28 points. The third-yearguard shot 11 of 17, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range. JalenWilliams added 22 points.

“Teammateswere finding me, I was in the right position, knocking down shots,”Joe said.

The Suns arestill awaiting the debut of Durant, who was dealt to the desert bythe Brooklyn Nets just before the trade deadline. Durant isrecovering from a sprained MCL in his right knee but is expected toreturn soon.

The Thunderalso were without a key piece — All-Star guard ShaiGilgeous-Alexander missed the game with right ankle soreness.

“I thoughtour offense kept us in the game tonight,” Thunder coach MarkDaigneault said. “We had a hard time getting a handle in themdefensively. They did a really good job attacking.”

Even withoutDurant, the Suns showed impressive depth. Josh Okogie scored 15points, Deandre Ayton added 14 points and 11 rebounds and Cam Paynescored 14 points off the bench in his return from a footinjury.

“He brought alevel of juice tonight that we needed,” Suns coach Monty Williamssaid. “The shot making, the quick attacking to the paint and thendefensively, I thought he was a pest.”

Okogie scored15 points as the Suns took a 65-60 halftime lead. Joe had 21 pointsfor the Thunder before the break on 8-of-11 shooting, going 5 of 8from 3-point range.

DURANT CLOSE

Durantappears close to making his Suns debut.

The 13-timeAll-Star played in a scrimmage on Thursday at the team’s facilityand Williams said the veteran’s body responded well. He was alsoworking out on the court before Friday’s game.

Durant wasdealt to the Suns two weeks ago in a blockbuster deal that sentMikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picksback to the Nets.

WAINRIGHT SIGNS DEAL

Forward IshWainright signed a multi-year contract before the game.

The backuphas emerged as a useful piece in the Suns rotation this season,averaging 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. The muscular6-foot-5, 235-pounder played basketball and a year of football incollege at Baylor.

Wainright had10 points against the Thunder.

TIP-INS

Thunder: FDario Saric returned to Phoenix for the first time since he wastraded to Oklahoma City. He was a key part of the rotation when theSuns made the Finals in 2021. The Suns honored Saric with ahighlight montage during a timeout in the first quarter.

Suns: Paynewas available for just the third time since mid-December. He’s beenbattling a foot injury. The backup point guard hit his first3-pointer of the night, earning a big roar from the home crowd. ...G Landry Shamet (right foot soreness) was not available. ... Hosteda 57th straight sellout crowd.

UPNEXT

Thunder: HostSacramento on Sunday.

Suns: At toMilwaukee on Sunday.