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Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen drive Phoenix Suns over Toronto Raptors

dana scott, arizona republic
·4 min read

Kevin Durant's game-high 35 points and Grayson Allen's 26 catapulted the Phoenix Suns (37-26) to a 120-113 home win over the Toronto Raptors (23-40) on Thursday.

This was Phoenix's second straight victory and Toronto's second consecutive loss.

Allen hit all eight of his treys (8-of-14 FG, all from the 3) in the first half, including seven in the opening period.

In the third straight game without Devin Booker (right ankle sprain), four of the Suns' starters scored in double figures. That includes Bradley Beal's 20 points and team-high eight assists, Royce O'Neale had 10 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Other big contributors for Phoenix were Jusuf Nurkic's game-high 14 rebounds, seven points, and five assists, plus Bol Bol's 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench.

Toronto's Gary Trent Jr. had the team-high 30 points. Immanuel Quickley produced 21 points, game-high 18 assists, nine rebounds, and RJ Barrett had 23 points in the loss.

After the Suns led by as much as 19 shortly before halftime, and seven entering the fourth, the Raptors shaved it to a three-point margin at eight minutes to go. Phoenix pushed its advantage back to up to 13 as it went on a 14-4 run through 4:41 left, and didn’t let get lower than seven the rest of the way.

The Suns host the Boston Celtics next on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Durant gets hot, but Raptors' make 3rd quarter run

Kevin Durant scored 16 of his 27 points in the third to help keep Phoenix's 89-82 lead entering the fourth.

Toronto's Gary Trent Jr. (team-high 24 points), Immanuel Quickley (14 points, game-high 13 assists), and RJ Barrett (14 points) didn't allow the game to get away.

After the Suns were up 73-59 at 9:30 left in the third, the Raptors went on a 15-6 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead to five as Phoenix had a minor slog on offense, committing three turnovers during that stretch (14 total). That was Toronto’s lowest deficit since Phoenix led by four at 4:28 in the first quarter.

Suns still in control at half behind Grayson Allen's hot shooting

Phoenix leads Toronto, 67-53, at the break and hasn't trailed since the tip-off.

Grayson Allen has exploded to the game-high 26 points on a remarkable 8-of-12 from the field, all from 3s for the Suns.

Kevin Durant has 11 points, Bradley Beal has nine, and Suns big Jusuf Nurkic has six with 12 rebounds.

The Raptors' Gary Trent Jr. has the team-high 16 points.

Suns' Grayson Allen on fire from deep in 1st quarter

Grayson Allen began the game putting on another shooting clinic to push Phoenix to a 39-25 lead after the 1st quarter.

Just like Allen's flawless 8-for-8 start from the 3 during the first half in Phoenix's win at Denver on Tuesday, he's nailed 7-of-8 from the perimeter for his game-high 21 points against Toronto.

The Suns have hit 10-of-17 from deep, including Kevin Durant (3-of-5 FG) draining one, adding to his seven points.

Starting lineups

The Suns are starting Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen in the backcourt, Royce O'Neale and Kevin Durant are at the three and four spots, and Jusuf Nurkic is in the middle.

The Raptors are opening with Ochai Agbaji, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, Gary Trent Jr. and Immanuel Quickley.

Injury reports: Suns' Booker, Raptors' All-Star Barnes out

Devin Booker (right ankle sprain) will be out for a third straight game for Phoenix.

According to the The Republic's Duane Rankin, Suns coach Frank Vogel said Booker is "making progess" and is "day-to-day" in his recovery after he suffered his ankle sprain in their home loss to Houston last Saturday. He might return this Saturday at home against the league's top team Boston Celtics.

Additional Suns on the team's injury report include Josh Okogie (lower abdominal strain), Nassir Little (left knee inflammation), and Damion Lee (right meniscus surgery), who are all out as well.

The Raptors' sole All-Star Scottie Barnes (left hand third metacarpal fracture), their top big Jakob Poeltl (left hand fifth finger torn ligament), Bruce Brown (left knee inflammation), and Mouhamadou Gueye (G League, Two-Way Assignment) are out. Second-year guard Ochai Agbaji (left knee soreness) and Jalen McDaniels (illness) are questionable.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant, Grayson Allen drive Phoenix Suns over Toronto Raptors