Devin Booker and Kevin Durant scored 31 points apiece as the Phoenix Suns ended the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves’ seven-game winning streak with a 133-115 victory on Wednesday.
Booker was back in action after missing the previous five games due to a right calf strain.
Eric Gordon had 15 points, Grayson Allen scored 14, Drew Eubanks added 13 and Josh Okogie chipped in 12 for Phoenix, which led by as many as 28 in the third quarter.
The Suns shot 60 percent from the field, including 17-for-31 (54.8 percent) from 3-point range, and never trailed again after moving ahead 17-14 midway through the opening quarter.
Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 25 points. Mike Conley scored 14 points, while Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid each scored 13.
Rudy Gobert recorded a game-high eight rebounds for the Wolves, whose seven-game win streak was their longest since 2004.
Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Minnesota shot 45.7 percent from the field and 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Wolves entered the contest as the NBA’s top defensive team, but they struggled to slow down the Suns from the outset.
Phoenix led 35-29 at the end of the first quarter after shooting 63.2 percent from the field. Towns scored 14 points in the period to keep Minnesota close.
The Suns, who lost five of their previous seven games, took control at the start of the second quarter and led 52-34 after Durant’s 3-pointer capped a 17-5 run.
Booker scored 18 points in the first half. Durant was close behind at 17 points.
Phoenix finished with a season-high 76 points in the first half and held a 22-point advantage at the break.
Minnesota trailed 110-82 before opening the fourth quarter on a 15-5 run. Gordon ended the rally with a 3-pointer to push the Suns’ lead back to 21 points with 6:57 remaining.
Phoenix played without guard Bradley Beal, who has been limited to just three games this season due to lower back issues.
The Suns have won 11 of the past 13 meetings against Minnesota, including five straight in Phoenix.
–Field Level Media
