The Phoenix Suns, looking to rebound after a loss the previous night, delivered a balanced performance to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 107-96 on Friday night. Devin Booker led the way with 21 points, but it was a true team effort that secured the victory.
Grayson Allen chipped in with 17 points, while Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon added 15 and 14 points respectively. Jusuf Nurkic and Kevin Durant rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points each. Nurkic's dominance on the boards was another key factor, grabbing a massive 21 rebounds to help Phoenix control the paint (57-48 rebound advantage).
The Charlotte Hornets, struggling with a losing record, fought valiantly. Vasilije Micic (21 points) and Grant Williams (20 points) led the scoring charge, with Miles Bridges contributing a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds). However, their comeback attempt fell short.
Down by 25 points entering the final quarter, the Hornets clawed their way back to within 10 points with a 17-2 run. However, Grayson Allen's clutch three-pointer halted their momentum. Charlotte went scoreless from the field for over 3 minutes down the stretch, allowing Phoenix to pull away and secure the win.
The Hornets' biggest downfall was their poor shooting from beyond the arc. They went a dismal 6-for-37 from three-point range (16.2%), hindering their offensive output. Despite committing just five turnovers, Charlotte couldn't capitalize on their ball security due to their shooting woes.
On the other hand, the Suns shot a respectable 46% from the field, with Gordon hitting four of their 11 three-pointers. Interestingly, no Phoenix starter reached double figures until well into the third quarter. However, their balanced scoring attack and dominance on the boards ultimately proved too much for the Hornets.
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