'Still early': Phoenix Suns not panicking after 2-3 start, face Philadelphia 76ers to begin road trip

PHILADELPHIA – Devin Booker isn’t panicking after the Phoenix Suns lost two in a row to the San Antonio Spurs at home.

In his ninth NBA season, Booker was hoping for a fast start, too, but sees the bigger picture, even if the view is blocked by the team's 2-3 record.

“Understanding what the beginning of the season is,” Booker said. “Not saying it’s not important. I think getting off to a good start is very important and it definitely helps you on the back end of the season, especially how it comes into play-in tournaments and seeding and homecourt advantage, but we still do have things to learn.”

The Suns still haven’t had Bradley Beal for a regular season game due to back issues and Booker just returned Thursday after missing three games with a left ankle sprain suffered in the season opener.

“We have really talented players that haven’t been in the rotation that might get opportunities with Brad out,” Booker continued. “Coach (Frank Vogel) tried a few different lineups. That is part of it, but back to communication, if we are all on the same page talking, we’ll be in pretty good shape.”

Phoenix looks to rebound during its three-game road trip that begins Saturday morning against the Philadelphia 76ers (3-1), winners of three straight, at Wells Fargo Center.

Booker is listed as questionable for Saturday's game while Damion Lee (knee) and Beal remain out. Beal did make the trip to Philadelphia.

“It is still early,” Suns superstar Kevin Durant said. “I know we want to win every game and we know our fan base wants to win every game, but keep rallying, keep moving on to the next one. We've got a three-game road trip. Try to lock in and do our best to come back home with some wins.”

What’s up with that 10 a.m. start time Saturday, after flying four hours across country and losing three hours?

“NBA always gives us an early game when we fly East,” Booker said. “I don’t know what that’s about.”

The Suns have bigger concerns starting with their defense. The Spurs had their way with them in Thursday’s 132-121 win 48 hours after rallying from 20 points down to stun the Suns, 115-114.

Keldon Johnson scored the game winner Tuesday with 1.2 seconds left after taking the ball from Durant.

More: 5 things learned from Phoenix Suns falling to Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs again in Devin Booker's return

In the rematch, rookie 7-foot-4 phenom Victor Wembanyama scored a career-high 38 points on 15-of-26 shooting to lead an offensive attack that splattered the Suns with an 18-of-37 effort from 3.

“I’d say communication,” said Booker on what’s wrong defensively. “That is always the easy answer and sounds like it’s not important. I think the best teams have all five guys – and bench including and coaches including – all talking to each other and on the same page. Lot of communication trumps the gray areas where people are in between and hesitant on what they’re supposed to do. Even if you are saying the wrong thing out there, at least everyone knows what is going on.”

San Antonio started the game cooking the Suns from 3, hitting 8-of-13 in building a 21-point lead.

“We just weren’t close enough to shooters,” Vogel said. “We had some breakdowns, left shooters on the backside, but general closeouts, guys are pulling threes on their own hand and give them credit. They shot the heck out of the basketball, especially in the first half.”

The Spurs led 39-20 after one.

“That was the game,” Durant said.

Then there’s Beal, who Vogel said before Thursday’s game is making progress, but he only played in two preseason games largely due to low back tightness and spasms.

“No change in status,” Vogel said.

On the court, the Suns trailed by as many as 27 points Thursday before Booker “willed” the Suns back as Vogel put it. Booker scored 21 of his 31 points in the second half.

“He was incredible,” Vogel said. “Took a little bit to get going, which is expected as he hasn’t played in nine days or so, but what a second half. He’s a spectacular player and willed us back into the game.”

Booker also had nine of his game-high 13 assists in the second half.

“Same ol Book,” Durant said. “Looked faster, stronger, looked better than he did Game 1 to be honest.”

Booker posted 32 points and eight assists in the season opener Phoenix won Oct. 24 at Golden State, but he injured his ankle late in the fourth quarter.

He missed Phoenix’s next three games, but rigorously worked his way back.

“They’re pushing his workouts,” said Vogel before Thursday’s game. “It’s always about pushing, pushing him in the workouts and see how his body responds to that and it’s been responding well.”

Still, Booker was a game-time decision after being listed as questionable.

“I was undecided going into the day,” Booker said. “I needed my court time to see if I was actually going to play or not. That process of checking all of those boxes and them bringing a minute restriction that did not last very long.”

Vogel said they had a minute “range” planned for Booker and admitted going “slightly higher.”

Booker played 35 minutes including all 12 in the fourth quarter.

“Just a lot of extra variables that go into it other than a regular game day,” continued Booker, who went 5-of-7 from 3. “But that is the flow of the game. I knew that I would find it. I think none of us had it in the first half and we came out and fought the second half. Now, we’re going to try and put two halves together so we can have a complete game.”

The Suns clawed their way back as Keita Bates-Diop hit a 3 against his former team to make it 116-116, but the Spurs responded with a 12-0 run with Wembanyama scoring 10 of those points.

“It’s big time,” Spurs guard Jeremy Sochan about Wembanyama, who also grabbed 10 rebounds. “Were we amazed? I’m not sure since we’ve seen that before. But it’s big time from him and that’s the type of player he is.”

Wembanyama’s third and final 3 on six attempts gave the Spurs a 126-116 advantage with 2:10 left in the game – and left the sellout crowd nearly speechless.

“Somebody has to do it,” said Wembanyama when asked if he felt a need to take over. “Tomorrow it will be one of my teammates. Two days ago, it was Keldon (Johnson). This is how we work. We work as a group and as a team.”

The Spurs never trailed in the game.

Have opinions about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns not panicking, face 76ers to begin three-game road trip