Five takeaways from Devin Booker's season-high in points, Julius Randle's buzzer-beater in Suns' loss to Timberwolves
The Suns continue to play without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal
Devin Booker scored a season-high 44 points, but the Phoenix Suns lost on a buzzer-beater from 3-point range by Julius Randle, dropping them to 9-5 with a 120-117 defeat on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Booker, who shot 30.8% (8-of-26) from the field in the Suns’ last two games, exploded with a 17-point first quarter. The Suns led 31-22 after the first and only trailed when the score was final.
The game-winner has been the hot topic because wing Josh Okogie appeared to fall after a push-off from Randle, who led the Timberwolves with 35 points, making 11-of-20 shots and 5-of-11 attempts from three. However, Phoenix also committed 19 turnovers and committed 16 more fouls than Minnesota.
The Suns appeared to get the short end of the stick from referees, who awarded the Timberwolves nine attempts in the fourth quarter at the free-throw line. The Suns were called for 26 fouls compared to the Timberwolves’ 13.
Here are five takeaways from the game.
Referees miss fouls on T-Wolves, hold whistle for Okogie
Okogie has to be frustrated. He was pushed off by Randle for the game-winning 3-point attempt.
The Suns led 112-104 with 4:12 to go. After that, the Suns did not attempt a free throw even though they were initiating and pushing toward the basket. Phoenix was whistled for five fouls, equaling Minnesota’s total from the full period of play.
Okogie’s last-second non-call was “frustrating,” coach Mike Budenholzer said.
“That’s a push-off earlier in the game,” he told The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin.
Even though Okogie gave up the game-winning three, he has been an active and physical body for Phoenix without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Okogie finished with six points but struggled to defend on the last play. He chose to close out on Randle while barely in front of the half-court line. Randle, who had seven points in the fourth, got a clean look even though he caught the basketball near the mid-court line with 2.7 seconds left.
Okogie’s defensive rep came after the Suns were called for two offensive fouls.
Booker lethal in coveted Edwards matchup
Booker is not the Suns’ No. 1 option. He has struggled to locate his shot and play off of Durant, Beal and new coach Mike Budenholzer.
The 27-year-old Booker has been the only member of the Suns’ Big 3 to stay healthy. Finally, he broke loose with a 44-point effort against rival Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, who swept Phoenix in a first-round series in April.
“Just trying to exploit the matchup,” Booker told Rankin.
Booker is notably one of the most efficient scorers in the league. He stamped his place in the NBA when he scored the most points in a single playoff run (542) and helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021. Two seasons later, he scored 331 points through the Suns’ first nine postseason games on 70% true shooting, the best ever by a player who scored at least 300 points over a span of nine playoff games.
Booker’s career effective field-goal percentage is 52.1 and he is now up to 51.0. Booker is averaging 25.6 points while shooting 44.3% (43-of-97) from the field in five games without Durant.
Offensive fouls appear to hurt Suns, benefit Wolves
The Timberwolves benefited from 26 Phoenix fouls, including two that were called against the Suns in the final three minutes.
Suns center Mason Plumlee, who started at power forward next to center Jusuf Nurkic, was called for an offensive foul when he appeared to be fouled by Timberwolves center and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert with 2:32 left.
Allen on the Suns’ next offensive play was called for an offensive foul while trying to V-cut and lead his man into a screen.
Phoenix was unable to challenge either of the calls.
Suns start two centers rather than going small
Facing Minnesota’s more conventional starting five, the Suns put Plumlee and Nurkic in their starting five for the first time this season.
Phoenix’s floor-spacing was compensated for more physicality. The Suns did well, however, and led for most of the game.
Beal, Durant still out as Suns struggle
Phoenix is looking to get healthy. For sure, the Suns are not the same team without Durant, who was listed at No. 3 in the NBA.com MVP ladder.
Durant is one of the best players in the league. He cannot be replaced. Beal, even though he is earning $50 million, is someone who is still one of the best players at his position.
The Suns play on the second night of a back-to-back on Monday against the Orlando Magic, where they will look to end a three-game losing streak.
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