Injury denies Durant Phoenix welcome, Daniels shines
Murray Wenzel |
Kevin Durant’s home debut never happened after the Phoenix recruit rolled his ankle in the warm-up and was a late scratching to face Oklahoma City.
The 13-time All-Star was added in a blockbuster trade deadline deal with Brooklyn and, after a storming start on the road for his new team, the Footprint Centre was buzzing in anticipation.
But Durant was injured while driving to the basket as he prepared to play, the forward immediately hopping up and able to walk before being scratched minutes later.
With Durant out, Suns fans had to settle for a scoring show by Devin Booker, who had 30 points in the first half.
Booker finished with 44 points and Terrence Ross added 24 in the 132-101 win, their fourth-straight.
Fresh off a historic 17-assist triple-double, the Thunder’s Australian guard Josh Giddey (10 points, seven rebounds, five assists) made just three of 12 field goals.
Fellow Australian guard Dyson Daniels enjoyed his best game since returning from a month-long injury, proving efficient in New Orleans’ 113-106 home victory over Dallas.
The 19-year-old had just four points but added six rebounds and six assists, the Pelicans 21 points better than the Mavericks with him on court.
CJ McCollum scored 13 of his 32 points in the final four minutes, while Luka Doncic (thigh) and Brandon Ingram (ankle) were both injured during the action.
Victory came despite an announcement before tip-off that the Pels’ All-Star forward Zion Williamson will be out at least two more weeks while he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Elsewhere, Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and made six triples as Boston beat Portland 115-93 to snap a three-game losing streak.
Matisse Thybulle missed all four of his three-point attempts during a quiet night for the Trail Blazers.
Darius Garland scored 25 points, Donovan Mitchell added 18 and Cleveland assured itself of a second consecutive winning season with a 104-100 victory in Miami.
The Cavaliers (42-26) are two wins away from matching last season’s win total, with 14 games left.
De’Andre Hunter’s three-point play with 67 seconds remaining put Atlanta ahead to stay in Washington, the Hawks holding off the Wizards 122-120 despite a career-high 43 points by Kristaps Porzingis.
Trae Young led Atlanta with 28 points and 10 assists. He shot 11 of 14 from the field.
And Kawhi Leonard (24 points, 12 rebounds) led the Clippers past Toronto 108-100 in Los Angeles.
AAP
