While the Phoenix Suns have a new look, they still use the same engine, and Devin Booker showed on NBA Opening Night that he’s ready to lead the charge again.
Booker and the Suns will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on the road on Thursday, and the All-Star guard scored 32 points, including a 32-point lead in the Suns’ 108-104 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday. The go-ahead score in the last 5 minutes. Warriors.
Kevin Durant scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jusev Nurkic had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Suns, who finished fourth in the Western Conference last season but were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Out.
Durant was transferred to the Suns at the trade deadline in February last season, but he only played eight regular season games for his new team and played in all 11 playoff games. Nurkic joined this summer on a three-team deal. Grayson Allen also went to the Suns in the trade and started Tuesday but did not score in 21 minutes.
“I just build trust with the team,” Booker said. “This is the first game, we know we have depth, we have all-around talent and just take advantage of it. … It’s such a test for us, first game, we can see The energy swayed, the game was back and forth. “Tightening it down the stretch was a big win for us. “
Phoenix also signed Bradley Beal this offseason, although he did not play on Tuesday due to lower back tightness. The highly anticipated backcourt duo of Beal and Booker will make their debut on Thursday.
While the Suns’ scoring potential was evident, they held the host Warriors to 18 points in both the second and fourth quarters of the opener.
“Being in this building against (the Warriors), which is outstanding on the defensive end, especially in Game 1, learning a new system with these guys,” new Suns head coach Frank Vogel said , he will now face his former head coaching staff.
The Lakers played against the champion Nuggets on Tuesday. Although they chased the point difference to 3 points in the fourth quarter, they ultimately lost 119-107.
LeBron James had 21 points and 8 rebounds, and Anthony Davis scored 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Davis did not score in the second half, shooting 0 for 6 from the field.
“They just didn’t fall down,” Davis said of his shot. “But I have to shoot more.”
The Lakers’ aging core pushed the team to the Western Conference Finals last season, but getting there this season will face many obstacles, with the Nuggets and Suns looming the most in that challenge. James played only 29 minutes, far below the 35.5 minutes he averaged last season.
“I always want to be on the court…” said the 38-year-old James. “But that’s the system in place and I’m going to follow it.”
At least a challenging first two games of the season will give Los Angeles an idea of where it stands among the best teams in the West.
“Our biggest thing is to meet aggression with aggression,” Lakers coach Davon Hamm said. “There are things we can definitely control a little better offensively. But this is the first game. We’re going to get better, trust me.”