Devin Booker’s line was an odd one to attach to a Phoenix Suns offense: 3 points, 1-for-7 shooting, seven assists and no turnovers. The passing kept the machinery moving. The missing points left Oklahoma City room to win 125-114 Monday night, even after the Thunder lost several established pieces from its rotation.
Booker did create useful offense. At 9:52 of the first quarter, his assist set up Jalen Green’s dunk. In the second, Booker found Green for a driving basket, then located Jordan Goodwin for a 3-pointer with 1:04 left. With 0.2 seconds remaining before halftime, he assisted Dillon Brooks on another 3. Those plays helped Phoenix finish with 29 assists and 18 made 3-pointers.
They also underline the problem. Booker’s only field goal came at 5:28 of the opening period, when he made a six-foot driving floater. He missed both 3-point attempts and did not make another basket. The Suns received organization from their leading creator, but no comparable scoring return from him.
Jalen Green offered the cleanest answer. He scored 20 points while going 8-for-13 from the field, including a driving layup at 7:30 of the second quarter and a driving basket at 8:49 of the third. Phoenix needed that efficiency because its other principal scorers were less steady.
Brooks had 19 points but shot 4-for-14, while Miles Bridges scored 17 on 7-for-17 shooting. Khaman Maluach added 12 points and seven rebounds, though he also committed four turnovers.
The Suns were not abandoned by their perimeter shooting. Goodwin made four of eight 3-pointers and scored 12 points, and Luke Kennard made three of five from deep. Phoenix’s 18-for-50 performance beyond the arc amounted to 36 percent. That is enough accuracy to support an offense, but not enough when the opponent is making 44 of 86 shots overall.
Oklahoma City’s response deserves real credit. Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace were unavailable after injuries suffered Sunday, Chet Holmgren sat out with right-knee patellar tendinitis, and Alex Caruso left after playing 9:04. The Thunder did not wait for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to solve every possession.
Ajay Mitchell, starting in Williams’ place, finished with a career-best 30 points, making 10 of his 16 field-goal attempts. Jared McCain, starting for Wallace, added 18 points, four assists and four 3-pointers in seven attempts. Together, the replacement starters scored 48 points on 16-for-30 shooting. Mitchell scored 18 before halftime, McCain had 10 by the break, and Oklahoma City led 67-53 at intermission.
