Defense fails to show up, Suns get blown out in Oklahoma City 128-103

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The Phoenix Suns lacked defensive effort and got blown out in Oklahoma City against the Thunder on Friday night, 128-103.

Kevin Durant led all scorers with 26 points and grabbed six rebounds and one assist.

Thunder fans still haven’t forgiven him for leaving Oklahoma City to join the Golden State Warriors after the 2015-16 season. They booed him during pregame introductions and whenever he touched the ball once the game started.

Devin Booker had 14 points but missed both of his three-point attempts.

The Suns were hoping to steal a win in Oklahoma City, as the Thunder were without All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who missed his second game with a bruised right thigh

However, the Suns didn’t have the same defensive intensity they had when they held the Denver Nuggets to 43% from the field and 25% from 3-point land.

Without Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s No. 3 scorer at 30.4 points per game, the Thunder still shot 56.3% and made 16 of 30 3-pointers.

Oklahoma City scored 70 points in the first half, thanks in part to being 8-11 from beyond the arc. Four Thunder players had 11 points in the half. By the time the game ended, seven of them were in double figures for scoring.

The Suns saw their biggest lead reach six points in the first quarter at 22-16 but then the Thunder scored nine straight and it was back and forth for the rest of the quarter, with seven ties and nine lead changes.

The Thunder finished the first with a 34-32 lead.

The Thunder’s bench outscored Phoenix 32-6 in the second quarter and the Suns never got within striking distance.

Josh Giddey scored 23 points for the Thunder. He has averaged 26.3 in his past three games. He made 10 of 15 field goals against Phoenix and had nine assists and seven rebounds.

Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace each added 16 for Oklahoma City.

The starters were pulled from the game with 7:34 left in the game.

The Suns started the night in seventh in the Western Conference, a half- game behind the Dallas Mavericks for sixth. The Suns need to finish sixth or better to stay out of the Play-In.

The Suns end their five-game road trip on Monday in New Orleans.

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