Phoenix Suns defeat Orlando Magic behind Big 3 of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal
The Phoenix Suns (17-15) defeated the Orlando Magic, 112-107, at home on Sunday, with the Big 3 finally showing what they can do when on the court together.
In Phoenix’s third straight win, all of the team’s starters scored in double figures. That included Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who all scored more than 20 points in their fourth game together this season.
Durant had the game-high 31, Booker 21 and Beal 25 in his second straight game since returning from an ankle injury that sidelined him for the past two weeks.
Orlando (19-13), which entered the game as the Eastern Conference's fourth-best team, was led by its second-year top player Paolo Banchero with 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Franz Wagner had 27 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in the losing effort.
The Suns led for most of the game. However, the Magic tied the game late in the third quarter, and regained the lead at 96-95 early in the fourth. Then the Suns’ pulled away behind Beal, Durant and dominant rebounding by Jusuf Nurkic (19 points, 13 rebounds) down the stretch.
Phoenix’s next game is the second of their back-to-back against Portland on Monday at 7 p.m., the third of the Suns’ six-game homestand.
Banchero, Wagner drive Magic surge in 3rd
The Suns lead Orlando at the end of the third quarter, 89-87, as a Magic run closed the gap.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero scored 12 of his 25 points, and his fellow starter Franz Wagner got 13 of his 22 in the third. He led the Magic's 19-6 run from around the seven-minute mark through the period's closing seconds before Bradley Beal (19 points, 7-of-10 shooting) hit a mid-range shot at the buzzer.
Kevin Durant has Phoenix's team-high 26 points (11-of-19 FG), four rebounds and four assists, and Devin Booker has 21 points with three assists.
Durant, Suns offense heat up, Magic surges in 2nd quarter
Phoenix remains in the lead over Orlando, 67-58, at the break.
All of the Suns starters have scored in double figures, including Devin Booker's team-high 16 points (5-of-9 shooting). The team's other two stars, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant, have 13 each on 50% shooting, and Durant scored nine in the second.
The Magic made a push in the second quarter, outscoring the Suns, 25-15, and eventually shaved the lead down to four at the 5:30 mark. Orlando's surge was led by Wendell Carter Jr. who scored all 12 of his points off the bench in the quarter.
In addition, Orlando's reserves have been highly productive scoring 29 points to the Phoenix bench's mere two. The Magic has been winning the rebounding battle, 24-19, and is 22-9 in second chance points over the Suns.
Booker, Beal drive Suns to large 1st quarter-lead
Phoenix leads Orlando 37-24 at the end of the opening period.
Two of the Suns' Big 3, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, lead the team with nine points each.
Orlando's Banchero has the current game-high 11 points.
The Suns' defense helped drive their offense, snaring four steals and causing five Magic turnovers, with Phoenix converting the latter to six points. Phoenix has just one turnover, and the Magic grabbed one steal.
Phoenix's largest lead in the first was 16.
Starting lineups
The Suns are starting Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, Grayson Allen and Kevin Durant at the three and four spots and Jusuf Nurkic at center.
The Magic will open with guards Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black, forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and Goga Bitadze in the middle.
Suns injury report
Phoenix is missing minimal players against Orlando: Josh Okogie (ankle) was upgraded from probable to available Sunday; Nassir Little (left knee soreness, out) and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery, out).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Suns beat Orlando Magic, led by Big 3 Booker, Beal, Durant
