PHOENIX (AP) — Grayson Allen scored 32 points and tied a career-high with nine 3-pointers, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 on Wednesday night.
Allen was 10 of 17 from the field, including 9 of 15 from long range. He has made at least eight 3-pointers in seven games this season, which ranks second in the NBA behind Golden State's Stephen Curry.
“A lot of them were passes from (Devin) Booker and his pick and roll tonight, early kicks and heads up in transition,” Allen said. “I said thank you when we were sitting on the bench after the game. I have a lot of good looks.
“I missed a few early, but the ball kept finding me and I kept letting it fly.”
Kevin Durant added 22 points for the Suns, while Booker had 18 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists, just shy of his first triple double of the regular season.
It wasn't always a pretty game for the Suns (they turned over 23 balls), but Durant didn't complain.
“It's about getting wins, man. We just want to win games,” Durant said. “I know sometimes it's about how you win, but at this point in the season, we just need to get wins.”
The Sixers trailed by 26 points early in the fourth quarter, but cut the Suns' lead to 102-91 with 5:15 left. Durant and Allen hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to reverse the comeback.
Allen hit consecutive 3-pointers, sandwiched around a Durant basket, to give the Suns an 81-64 lead with 4:32 left in the third. Phoenix finished the quarter on a 17-2 run for a 90-66 lead heading into the fourth.
Philadelphia was led by Kelly Oubre Jr. with 18 points, while Cameron Payne and Jeff Dowtin Jr. each scored 12 off the bench. The Sixers made just 7 of 18 (38%) free throws.
The Sixers continued their long streak: They are 9-18 since January 25th. It's a stretch that roughly reflects the time when the seven-time All-Star center Joel Embiid has been absent since surgery on his left knee.
“We just didn't seem to move with the energy we needed to,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “We know they can devastate you from the 3, and we talked about trying to limit their attempts tonight, but we just couldn't do it.”
Durant, a 14-time All-Star, passed Shaquille O'Neal for eighth place on the NBA's scoring list. The 35-year-old has 28,610 points. Next on the list is Wilt Chamberlain, who has 31,419.
The Suns got off to a rough start, missing their first eight shots and turning the ball over four times. They recovered quickly, using a 23-6 second quarter run to take a 60-47 halftime lead despite 13 turnovers.
The Suns shot 10 of 20 (50%) from 3-point range and had a 34-18 rebounding advantage before halftime. Allen led the way with 13 points, making 4 of 7 three-pointers.
“He's always a threat for doing what he did tonight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
76ers: Host Atlanta on Thursday night.
Suns: against the Lakers on Friday night.
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