PHOENIX Suns bucked the absence of star forward Kevin Durant to score a lopsided 109-88 victory over Portland Trail Blazers in the 2023-2024 NBA Season on New Year’s Day (Tuesday in the Philippines) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bradley Beal led the way with 21 points to go with four rebounds, while Jusuf Nurkić chipped in 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Suns, which were without Durant due to sore hamstring.
Chimezie Metu stepped up for Phoenix with 14 points, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon contributed 12 markers apiece, Bol Bol finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Devin Booker struggled with 10 points as they improved to an 18-15 record.
Down 20-29 after the opening quarter, the Suns turned things around in the second period behind conversions from Beal, Bol, and Allen as they took a 55-47 advantage at the half.
The Suns continued its run in the second half with Nurkic unloading consecutive points to start the third quarter followed by connections from Beal, Gordon, and Metu as the lead reached as high as 25 points.
Rookie Scoot Henderson top-scored with 17 points, Jerami Grant added 15 markers, while Malcolm Brogdon and Jabari Walker ended with 10 points apiece as the Blazers dropped to 9-23 record.
Meanwhile, Jordan Clarkson registered Utah Jazz’s first triple-double since 2008 as they scored a 127-90 victory over Dallas Mavericks at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Filipino-American guard tallied 20 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds off the bench as the Jazz secured its 15th victory as against 19 defeats.
Simone Fontecchio led the way for Utah with 24 points, Lauri Markkanen added 17 markers, while John Collins, Keyonte Jones, and Walker Kessler contributed 15, 14, and 11, respectively.
Luka Doncič had a double-double of 19 points and 14 assists, Jaden Hardy added 17 markers, while Kyrie Irving marked his return from injury with 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists as the Jazz dropped to 19-15./PN
BOX SCORE:
PHOENIX 109 — Beal 21, Nurkić 18, Metu 14, Allen 12, Gordon 12, Bol 11, Booker 10, Bates-Diop 3, Okogie 3, Goodwin 2, Watanabe 2, Eubanks 1, Azubuike 0.
PORTLAND 88 — Henderson 17, Grant 15, Brogdon 10, Walker 10, Wainwright 8, Mays 7, Sharpe 6, Murray 6, Badji 4, Thybulle 3, Brown 2.
Quarterscores: 20-29, 55-47, 86-61, 109-88.
